Broward Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit detectives arrested the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash in West Park on Monday morning.

According to detectives, surveillance video showed that following the fatal crash near Barry Road and West Hallandale Beach Boulevard that killed a pedestrian, the driver, Karen Essick, stopped her maroon Toyota Corolla. The video showed Essick briefly exited the vehicle, made a U-turn and returned to the crash scene. Shortly after that, Essick fled the scene.

Following the crash, Miramar Fire Rescue transported the pedestrian, Mishell Warner to Memorial Regional Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. According to detectives, Warner was not in a designated crosswalk when she was struck.

As the investigation progressed, on Wednesday, March 25, BSO’s Real Time Crime Center assisted detectives in locating the Toyota Corolla at a repair shop in West Park. Detectives went to the repair shop and determined that the damage to the vehicle was consistent with the damage caused by the crash and the car parts located at the scene.

Detectives then contacted Essick who admitted being involved in a traffic crash with a pedestrian. Essick was arrested for tampering with physical evidence and failure to remain on scene in an accident involving death. She was transported to the Broward County Main Jail.