INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Authorities have found the driver and Jeep Wrangler believed to have been involved in a fatal hit and run crash that occurred in Indian River County Saturday.
An arrest has not yet been made pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The vehicle was found in a garage at a home on 12th Street, according to a briefing released by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred on 12th Street, east of 58th Avenue around 4 a.m. in Vero Beach, which killed 30-year-old Jessica Joy Dees-Feurstein, who was out for a morning run.
On Tuesday, FHP obtained video surveillance near the crash that gave accurate suspect vehicle description that helped investigators narrow it down to a white 2007 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler.
FHP Corporals began canvassing the area and located one in the 6900 block of 12th Street in Vero Beach. The vehicle was registered to the resident of the home but the driver at the time of the hit and run was determined to be another person, identified as Michele Gazzara, 23.
Gazzara was interviewed but not arrested.
The 2013 white Jeep Wrangler was found with damage consistent with evidence found at the scene of the fatal hit and run.
The vehicle was seized as evidence and a search warrant is expected to be obtained prior to any further evidence being collected from the Jeep.
The State Attorney’s Office in Indian River County has been notified of the developments in the case and will ultimately determine whether to bring charges on the driver.
