WASHINGTON — A report of a man acting strangely at a Fair Oaks area shopping center led police to the Fairfax man now charged with hitting and killing a 75-year-old woman as she crossed Rugby Road on Friday.
Kenan M. Ozcan, 31, was arrested on a charge of hit-and-run for striking 75-year-old Maria Ascencio twice as she crossed the street Friday morning, killing her.
Police encountered Ozcan several hours after the deadly hit-and-run while officers investigated a report of an assault on a woman at a shopping center a mile from the crash site, Fairfax County police said.
The woman said the man was acting strangely and accosted her, stealing her earrings, after she took his photo, police said.
During the investigation on Fair Ridge Drive, police noticed the man involved in the reported assault and robbery had a car with front-end damage. Investigators ultimately linked him to the fatal crash, police said.
Ozcan was driving a Dodge Dart south on Rugby Road when he hit Ascencio as she walked across the street near U.S. 50 about 10:15 a.m. Ozcan turned around to hit Ascencio a second time before taking off, police said.
Ascencio died at the scene. She lived nearby and was taking her daily walk when she was hit, police said.
Police don’t believe that Ozcan and Ascencio knew each other, but they are investigating whether Ozcan hit Ascencio intentionally.
The westbound lanes on U.S. 50 were closed for hours while police investigated the fatal crash. The lanes have since reopened to traffic.
Ozcan was also charged with robbery, police said.
WTOP’s Jack Moore and Michelle Basch contributed to this report.
