LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Police in Lafayette are investigating a hit-and-run incident that occurred on Halloween, leaving a woman injured.

The victim, Jessica Martinez, says the driver struck her and fled the scene and has not yet been found.

The incident took place in a parking lot near DD’s Discount, where Martinez was crossing when she was hit from behind by a vehicle. When recounting the traumatic event, she says every time she closes her eyes, she can still picture herself “going in the air and hitting the ground.”

“It’s been hard,” said Martinez.

Martinez described how the driver of a white car stopped briefly after hitting her, only to speed off through the roads and disappear.

The injuries Martinez sustained from the hit-and-run required stitches, leaving her with cuts and scratches on the right side of her face, neck, arms and hand.

Since the incident, Martinez has struggled with sleeping and has become more cautious of her surroundings. She expressed her hope that the driver would have stopped to check on her well-being.

“Stop, because you never know how injured the person is,” she said. “Just stop and make sure they are okay.”

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the hit-and-run to contact Lafayette Police as the investigation continues.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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