The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office says they will perform an autopsy on 87-year-old Florence Warren to determine the exact cause of death.
According to the Avon Police Department, several 911 calls came in Friday evening alerting them of a car versus pedestrian crash in front of the Good Samaritan Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Detroit Road.
When officers arrived to the scene, they found Warren lying on the side of the road.
Warren was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center.
People at the scene said they did not witness the accident and just stopped to assist.
Police say the suspect vehicle did not stop after the accident and drove away from the scene.
Citing declining health, her family recently convinced her to check into the nursing home.
"She was unhappy being in the nursing home. I think she planned her escape well and anticipated going home," says daughter Linda Meldrum.
Her family says she was supposed to be staying in a "locked-down area" when she somehow managed to escape.
"There was a security door in her room that she was able to disable at 87 years old. They appear to be very short staffed at night. We were told there was a loud alarm going off but no one went looking to see what was going on," says Meldrum.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
The Avon Police Department is requesting anyone with information regarding this accident to please call (440)934-1234.
The Good Samaritan Nursing facility released the following statement regarding the incident:
An unfortunate incident has taken place in which one of our residents was struck by an unidentified vehicle on Detroit Road during the evening of March 13, 2009. This was a "hit and run" incident where the driver left the scene. Good Samaritan urges anyone with any information regarding this incident to immediately report it to the Avon Police Department at 440-934-1234. Out of respect for the privacy of the resident and their family, we cannot share any further information, other than to note that all of the other residents of our health care center are safe. Good Samaritan appreciates the well-wishes and condolences of the community and hopes that the driver involved in this incident will be found quickly.
Stay with Fox8.com for additional information as it becomes available.
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