Cudjoe Key woman killed in hit and run, Key West woman charged

A Cudjoe Key woman died Wednesday night after being hit by a car while walking on South Roosevelt Boulevard near Key West International Airport and another woman has been charged in her death.

Key West police said the victim was Verna Stephanie Collins, 49, of Colson Drive. She worked for Key West dentist Claude Harris.

Police said  the driver was April Dawn Thomason, 43, of Telegraph Lane. She's charged with negligent homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and hit and run, all felonies.

Police spokeswoman Alyson Crean said that about 5:30 p.m., Thomason was driving a black Mercedes outbound and lost control, veering up on the sidewalk and hitting the 49-year victim, who was walking with a friend. Thomason reportedly kept driving, then was forced to stop by a vehicle in front of her. Two bicyclists who saw the hit and run caught up to Thomason’s car and detained her until police arrived, Crean said.



In a report, police officer Kathryn Hansell wrote that Thomason said she had a seizure and wasn't drinking. She said she was at the beach "praying to God." Toxicology tests to determine if she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs are being done.



On Sept. 14, she posted on her Facebook page: "I AM ASKING FOR PRAYERS PLEASE. DETOX. DAY 5."



Thomason worked at the Rick's/Durty Harry's bar complex at 202 Duval St., according to police officer Gustavo Adolfo Medina's report.

Collins was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. South Roosevelt was shut down for more than four hours for the investigation.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 7:46 AM with the headline "Cudjoe Key woman killed in hit and run, Key West woman charged."