Police release vehicle photo in Clearwater hit-and-run

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Police released a surveillance image Saturday of a vehicle possibly involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run crash.

Investigators said Tammie Whiting, 53, was in the crosswalk and while walking across Myrtle Avenue at Turner Street at around 6:15 p.m. Thursday. Whiting had a green light, but someone ran a red light and hit her, leaving her in critical condition.

"It's really awful and there were a lot of people who stopped and stayed who tried to help," said witness Kristina Graham.

Investigators have a vague vehicle description: a late 1990s or early 2000s sedan, similar to a Ford Taurus.  Witnesses gave police differing colors -- either silver, grey, or champagne.

"What we are trying to do now is comb the area for possible surveillance videos to hopefully give us a peek of  what that car looked like, perhaps get a tag number," said Rob Shaw, a spokesperson for Clearwater police.

Last month, surveillance video helped detectives track down the unique-model Mercedes SUV suspected to be involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

Officers are concerned the search will be more difficult this time.

"A car that is similar to a Ford Taurus, silver, grey or champagne in color -- that's a little more common than a  Mercedes SUV, so we have our work cut out for us here," Shaw said, adding the conditions outside also made it more difficult for witnesses to get a clear view of the car. "It was raining, it was dark, so that may explain some of the discrepancy."

Shaw said the vehicle likely has front-end damage. Anyone with information is asked to call Clearwater police.