Woman left without car to visit daughter in hospital after hit-and-run crash

Serice Sanders could not believe her eyes.

The sport-utility vehicle that had just sideswiped her car on Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids had stopped initially, but was now driving away. She became hysterical, as traffic zoomed by.

“She stopped for about 5 or 6 seconds,” Sanders said. “One car passed, and as soon as it got by, she got back in the lane and took off. I couldn't believe what was going on.”

Police are investigating the case as a hit-and-run. Sanders, 29, of Waterloo, was southbound in the right lane around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday when an SUV tried to merge into her lane near the First Street exit. The two vehicles made contact, and Sanders' car hit the guardrail.

Although Sanders was not injured, the crash left her without a working vehicle at a difficult time. Sanders' 7-year-old daughter, Serae, has Cerebral palsy and is hospitalized in Iowa City after a recent surgery. Sanders has needed her car to get to the hospital and back to Waterloo this week.

Although the driver SUV signaled before merging into her lane, Sanders said she didn't have time to slow down or honk her horn. It happened quick, and left the rear bumper of the SUV hanging down.

“I thought she was stopping to get out and see the damage on her vehicle, but I was totally wrong,” Sanders said.

Police said the SUV was described as maroon or burgundy, and possibly a Chrysler Pacifica. The driver was a white female, Sanders said.

Sanders' vehicle had to be towed from the scene, and family from Waterloo drove to Cedar Rapids to get her, police said. She was trying to secure a rental vehicle Thursday. Her daughter was expected to be released from the hospital Friday.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Cedar Rapids police at (319) 286-5491.