Mother of Three Killed in Midland Hit-and-Run, Police Seek Driver

A Tragic Hit-and-Run in Midland

The Midland Police Department is actively investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a local mother and wife. The event occurred on Wednesday, July 23rd, around 9:30 p.m., when officers responded to a call at the 3600 block of Thomason Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered 31-year-old Noraima Hernandez critically injured on the road. Witnesses reported that she had been struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.

Hernandez succumbed to her injuries later that night. According to investigators, she was out for a jog and was returning home when she was hit near the middle of the intersection. The vehicle involved is described as a dark-colored pickup truck, possibly a Ford or Dodge, with a black or gray exterior. It continued westbound on Thomason Drive toward Midland Drive without stopping.

This incident is being treated as a failure to stop and leave information following an accident resulting in death—a second-degree felony. Lt. Pete Dehlinger, Traffic Division with the Midland Police Department, expressed his sentiments on the matter. He stated, “In my opinion, it’s rather cowardly to make a mistake such as this and just drive away. It may very well have been an accident, and accidents happen and everybody understands that, but when you refuse to take responsibility for that, it changes the dynamics of the situation.”

Limited Leads, But Hope Remains

Despite the ongoing investigation, police acknowledge that their leads are limited. While vehicle accidents in the area are not uncommon, incidents involving pedestrians, especially on a busy street like Thomason Drive, are rare. As of now, the only lead detectives have is the brief description of the vehicle. There is no known driver, no license plate, and very little surveillance footage available.

One neighbor provided home security footage showing the vehicle moments after the collision, but the quality and speed of the footage make it difficult to extract any further identifying details. Lt. Dehlinger noted, “We actually have a relatively good clearance rate on hit-and-run accidents. Usually, with technology nowadays, we have cameras at intersections that help us out. Usually, when a vehicle is involved in an accident, they leave debris in the roadway, which helps us out quite a bit, and usually, you have witness statements and accounts.”

A Plea to the Public

The Midland Police Department is urging the community for assistance in solving the case. Investigators believe even a small tip could be crucial in breaking the case open. Lt. Dehlinger emphasized, “When you’re involved in an accident that causes death, it becomes a second-degree felony, and if we find other circumstances involved with it, other charges can be filed. But for the main part, we need to get his or her side of the story to see exactly what happened.”

Dehlinger added that the police would be willing to listen to the driver’s side—especially if this was truly an accident. However, he stressed that the time to come forward is now. “The family deserves closure with this. They deserve to know what happened with their loved ones, and that’s what we’re striving for, is to get that information,” said Lt. Dehlinger.

How You Can Help

Midland Police remain in contact with Hernandez’s family, who are currently grieving the loss of a wife and mother of three. The department is asking anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. If you have any information, you are urged to contact:

• Midland Police Department: (432) 685-7122
• Midland Crime Stoppers: (432) 694-TIPS

Your help could be vital in bringing justice to the victim and providing closure to her family.