Woman arrested in West Park hit-and-run that killed pedestrian, BSO says

Authorities have arrested a woman who they believe is responsible for a hit-and-run in West Park earlier this week that left another woman dead.

Karen Essick, 66, is facing charges including tampering with physical evidence and failure to remain on scene in an accident involving death, Broward Sheriff’s Office officials said Thursday.

Deputies responded to the incident around 6:45 a.m. Monday in the area of Barry Road and West Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

When deputies arrived, they found the woman lying in the roadway and she was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She was later identified as Mishell Laurine Warner.

Authorities said surveillance video showed Warner struck before Essick stopped her maroon Toyota Carolla.

Essick briefly got out of her car then made a U-turn and returned to the crash scene before fleeing, authorities said.

Detectives determined Warner was not in a designated crosswalk when she was struck, officials said.

On Wednesday, detectives found the Corolla at a repair shop in West Park that had damage and missing parts consistent with the hit-and-run, authorities said.

Essick, of Miramar, later admitted to being involved in a crash with a pedestrian and was arrested and booked into jail, officials said.