On Dec. 28, 2019, officers of the Morgantown Police Department responded to a report of a vehicular collision on Dorsey Avenue near the intersection of Marcus Drive. A 2003 Mazda MPV minivan crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 2018 Ford Fiesta that was operated by Shelly Duffer, 57, of Morgantown. Following the collision, the driver of the Mazda MPV drove away from the scene and traveled toward the South Park area, where the vehicle caught fire and was disabled on Ross Street. The driver of the Mazda MPV then fled from the vehicle on foot.
Duffer was transported by Mon EMS to Ruby Memorial Hospital due to injuries sustained in the collision and died on Jan. 9, 2020, twelve days following the incident.
During the resulting investigation, officers were able to determine that the driver of the Mazda MPV at the time of the collision was Codie Leigh Richards, 27, of Morgantown. On Jan. 22, 2020, Richards was arrested at her home by officers of the Morgantown Police Department with the assistance of deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department.
Richards was charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death (Erin’s Law). Richards was processed and arraigned in Monongalia County Magistrate Court, where her bond was set at $10,000.