Woman dies after chasing hit, run driver

A 71-year-old woman who chased a hit-and-run driver ended up dying from a medical condition most likely caused by stress from the incident, Las Vegas police said.

Patricia Special of Las Vegas was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Trail Blazer when the vehicle was struck by a white SUV near the intersection of Del Ray Avenue and Torrey Pines Drive about noon Thursday, Detective Dennis Magill said.

The white SUV fled and Special followed. She soon lost the SUV in the area of Clark County Community College on Charleston Boulevard.

Special then pulled into a parking lot where emergency personnel were called. She was taken to University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, Magill said.

Special suffered from a medical condition and the stress from the incident might have led to her death, Magill said.

The white SUV was not found.

The damage caused in the wreck was minor, Magill said. The SUV should have a small amount of damage to its front end.

Magill said he doesn't recommend victims of hit and run incidents chase the other vehicle. "If you can follow safely for a block and get a license plate number, then pull over and call the police," he said. "But you shouldn't chase a vehicle all over the world because that can get you into trouble."

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or Magill at 828-3317.