Port Arthur police say person of interest identified in hit-and-run death
Published 12:01 am Friday, October 18, 2019
- The suspect vehicle that struck and killed bicyclist Jamica Thibo was found abandoned at an apartment complex less than 12 hours after the hit and run. (Mary Meaux/The News file photo)
Port Arthur police are making strides in the investigation into the hit-and-run that left Jamica Thibo dead last week.
Chief Tim Duriso said detectives have promising leads and a person of interest in the death. Police are not naming the individual and the crash remains under investigation.
Duriso could not elaborate further on the case but said the department’s advanced accident investigation team investigated the scene.
Thibo, 40, of Port Arthur was riding his bicycle while wearing reflective clothing and with a reflector on the front wheel of the bicycle when he was struck and killed in the 3000 block of Savannah Avenue near Motiva.
Surveillance video from Motiva provided to police shows Thibo on the bike traveling northbound. The video also shows a newer model white, four-door Dodge Ram pull up and stop at a red light at Savannah and 25th Street.
After the victim is struck — which happened at approximately 9:17 p.m. Oct. 9, the unidentified driver leaves the scene only to park nearby, get out and survey the damage to his truck before leaving again.
The victim was discovered six hours later by Motiva security in the 3000 block of Savannah Avenue.
The truck police believe struck Thibo was found abandoned at Timber Creek Apartments near the back of the complex. The front passenger side of the vehicle had extensive damage. As police processed the evidence, family members of Thibo sat on a nearby stairwell at the apartment complex and watched the scene unfold.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call PAPD at 983-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 833-TIPS.
