Hit-and-run ends life of Fort Worth student with dreams of college, nursing career
Bella Vasquez and her friends were headed home after a Halloween party early Sunday when a minor traffic accident turned tragic near a Fort Worth highway.
Fort Worth police said the three friends were involved in a single-car accident shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of Interstate 20 westbound between McCart Avenue and James Avenue/Crowley Road.
After the accident, the three started walking on the right shoulder of the freeway to get help when they were struck by a hit-and-run driver, leaving the 20-year-old Vasquez dead at the scene.
Fort Worth police said the other woman hit by the vehicle later died at a local hospital. Her name has not been released by authorities.
A man who was with the two women also was injured and taken to a local hospital.
Bella “was scheduled to graduate in June,” said 18-year-old Brenda Vasquez, Bella’s younger sister, Monday morning in a telephone interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Brenda Vasquez talked as she helped her mother with funeral plans for Bella Vasquez. “Now she won’t get that chance.”
Bella Vasquez had attended Trimble Tech High School, but she was set to graduate next summer from Texans Can Academy, her sister said.
Brenda Vasquez said her sister had received a scholarship for college, where she wanted to pursue a career in nursing.
“God gained another angel and a very good one,” her sister wrote on Bella Vasquez’s GoFundMe page. “She was my sister, my best friend. She was everything to me. We were so close, always came to me when she needed to talk and me as well. She was always there for me even on the bad days we were together and more for the better days. I’m so heartbroken.”
Fort Worth police continued to ask for help Monday to find the driver who failed to stop and help any of the victims early Sunday.
The unknown vehicle hit Vasquez and her two friends, then immediately left the scene without stopping, police said.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or has any further information about this case should contact Traffic Investigation Detective Carter at 817-392-4885. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by contacting Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477.
“She loved to party,” Bella’s sister said. “And she always had a smile.”
A GoFundMe account has been established for the family of Bella Vasquez to help with the cost of the funeral.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 2:29 PM.
