Deaf Apple Valley woman critical after hitandrun

She is removed from life support. Suspected vehicle found.


kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Police find possible hit-and-run car as victim is removed from life support

Police find possible hit-and-run car as victim is removed from life support
Updated: 3/12/2009 10:50:57 PM

Apple Valley Police say a tip lead them to a car in Lakeville that has damage "consistent with striking a pedestrian."

Meantime, relatives of hit-and-run victim Joan LeVasseur say they've decided to remove her from life support. According to their CaringBridge page, HCMC doctors "have sadly told us that there is no sign of a meaningful recovery for Joan."

LeVasseur's friends gathered Thursday afternoon for a vigil at Cedar Ave. and 153rd St., the scene of the accident. They dropped off flowers and shared stories using sign language.

"We're happy to come together and be supportive and remember," one friend said.

Friends say LeVasseur loved cats. "When she would sign into I.M., she'd say ,'Meow,'" says Dennis Davey, who was interpreting for friends. "That was her 'hello.'"

LeVasseur, who was deaf, was struck by a car while walking to Cub Foods Friday night. The car drove away without stopping.

Investigators received a tip Wednesday about a car in Lakeville, just ten blocks from the scene. Investigators found a 2003 silver Ford Focus inside the garage. Captain Jon Rechtzigel of the Apple Valley Police Department says the car had "front-end damage consistent with striking a pedestrian."

However, the car's owners will not talk to police.

"I believe they have legal counsel advising them not to talk to us at this point," Rechtzigel says. "We're still very hopeful they will talk to us."

Police seized the car and moved it to Saint Paul. Investigators with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will do forensic tests on the car to determine what kind-of collision it was involved in.

Police say they are also following up on other leads, in case this one does not pan out.
(Copyright 2009 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)



 
Posted on the Caring Bridge website today


Dear Family and Friends,

Joan passed away at 4:20AM Friday, March 13th. There has been a lot of well meaning but inacurate information so I thought it would be best if I let you know myself. The family after learning of the extent of Joan's injuries thoughtfully(painfully) considered the options for the future. It was our selfish desire to keep Joan's heart beating and to take care of her body the rest of our lives. After considering what Joan would have wanted, we knew that Joan would have not have wanted to be hooked up to life support and bedridden but would have wanted to save other families from what hers had just gone through and started the process of organ donation. That is why we were not forthcoming with a lot of info since Wed. There were a lot of reasons for the delay but the doctors and recipients finally were in place and Joan was taken off life support this morning and shortly after passed away.

A lot of people have come together and many have become much closer than ever before and that is exactly what our Joan would have wanted. We want to thank the excellent work of the Apple Valley police, they have kept us all from suffering the pain of no justice. They worked very hard and have a lot of work ahead of them until this case is through the courts. Any more info that would coraborate the details of last Friday would be helpful.

I want to thank all the family and friends for their support through all of this, without you this would have been much harder.

I want to thank H.C.M.C. for giving us the peace of mind that Joan had the very best chance possible to make it though this. This hospital saved my live 10 yrs ago and was hoping that is could happen again. Some things are beyond us. I want to thank all the staff because all of them were the best at what they do and all of them cared so much for our Joan and for the family.

Her final goodbye will be at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rush City on Sat., Mar. 21st. Please be a part of it, and comfort one another. We will be working on more details in the next several days.

Her Stepfather,

Bob Boever
 
I was one who organized the vigil. About 20 people showed up. More wanted to come but had to work or whatever but their spirits was with us.

I did visited Joan at the hospital on Wed night because her mom, Patty told me that they was going to pull the plug next day (it seem like they didn't want to let her go until Friday). I took it so hard so I cried when hugged Patty. I was lucky enough to say goodbye and stayed at her bedside for an hour with my brother and a few of friends.

I will have good night's sleep until they catch whoever hit her and justice being served. It have been hard week for me.
 
Oh no! I am sorry about your friend, Rachel. Very tragic, inheed, but I applaud her family for their selfishlessness to give other families hope by organ donation. :hug:
 
My God! I'm really sorry about your friend and I hope they catch whoever hit her. My thoughts are with you and your friend, Racheleggert.
 
Sorry about your loss, Rachel. Joan's family did a great thing by having her organs donated, as least some part of her will live on.

RIP Joan
 
Rachel,

I was enroute to southern California for spring break when this happened and just read about this now. Cedar Avenue in that area is so dangerous one would think all the cars are competing for the Indy 500 the way they ALL drive! One also has to suspect that at least two out of every 10 drivers are impaired in some way at any given time during the day and night, so it doesn't surprise me that the owner (s) of the car aren't talking and have an attorney already. What's the status of this case? Has there been an arrest warrant issued yet?
 
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