$5K Reward Offered For Information In Fatal Halloween Hit-And-Run

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Five months later, Howard County police are still searching for the driver of a vehicle who hit and killed a 17-year-old girl on Halloween and drove off. Investigators are asking for the public’s help and offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information.

Nursen Esabel Akinci of Columbia was hit by an unknown vehicle traveling eastbound on Route 108 just east of Phelps Luck Drive in the early morning hours after Halloween, around 1:36 a.m. on Nov. 1. Police believe Akinci stopped her Honda Civic on northbound Phelps Luck Drive at Route 108 and she and another teen exited the car to run across the road to a Royal Farms store. Akinci was struck; the other pedestrian was not injured. Akinci died at the hospital as a result of her injuries.

Investigators conducted a detailed search and have canvassed the area in search of witnesses or surveillance video that may have captured the collision, but have not located anything that could aid in the identification of the vehicle or its driver.

Anyone who sees or knows of a dark-colored sedan, small SUV or crossover vehicle that has
or had front-end damage, including the driver’s side headlight, is asked to contact police at
410-313-STOP or HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov. Investigators are asking area body shops to contact police if they recall repairing a vehicle matching this description in late 2020 or early 2021.