Driver flees fatal crash, tries suicide, police say

7/2/2004

A West Toledo man died shortly after he was struck by a hit-skip driver, who was driving with a suspended license and who later tried to kill herself by overdosing on pills, police said.

Brent Cook, 42, of 1930 Loxley Rd., was pronounced dead at Toledo Hospital at 11:14 p.m. Wednesday, about 30 minutes after he was hit by a car in the 1700 block of West Bancroft Street, authorities said.

The alleged driver, Tishonda Finn-Collins, 30, of 2215 Sylvan Ave., was being treated at Toledo Hospital, police said. A hospital spokesman said she had no information on a patient by her name.

No charges have been filed in the accident, which remains under investigation.

Witnesses told police Mr. Cook was crossing West Bancroft about 10:45 p.m. when an eastbound car hit him. He was thrown into the westbound lane, and the driver fled, continuing eastbound. About 15 minutes later, the damaged hit-skip car was found unoccupied in the driveway of the Sylvan address. Police towed the car, which belongs to one of Ms. Finn-Collins' friends, Officer Dave McClellan said. He said Ms. Finn-Collins was home at the time police were at her residence, but she didn't answer the door. She later told police she was scared to talk with authorities.

About 3 a.m., police were sent to 3321 Maplewood Ave. on a report of a suicide attempt. When officers arrived, they found Ms. Finn-Collins, who told police she took pills in an attempt to kill herself because she was driving the car that hit the man on West Bancroft.

She told police she saw Mr. Cook but didn't have time to stop. Neither Mr. Cook's family nor Ms. Finn-Collins could be reached for comment.

Ms. Finn-Collins has numerous bench warrants for unrelated traffic cases in Toledo Municipal Court, including one for drunken driving.

Contact Christina Hall at:

chall@theblade.com or

419-724-6007.