A tragic hit-and-run in Methuen has left a local woman dead and police scrambling to hunt down a motorcyclist who fled the scene. The incident occurred Sunday evening when the 62-year-old woman, who has yet to be named, was struck and found lifeless near Lowell Street, as reported by NBC Boston. Authorities say the rider who hit her on what appeared to be a Harley Davidson, was last seen speeding off, even after momentarily stopping.

Methuen police received a distressing call at about 8:37 p.m. on Sunday night, only to arrive at a grim scene where multiple people were already flagging down first responder Officer Michael Cabral. Providing immediate first aid, the officer perhaps found himself battling not the prospect of life against death, but the hope that his efforts would not be in vain. The victim was quickly transported to Lawrence General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, as detailed by WCVB.

In the quest for answers, Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara issued a call for public assistance to identify the driver of the speeding motorcycle. A surveillance video has captured the harrowing event showing the motorcycle, possibly missing a two-tone grey and dark red fender from the collision, briefly pausing before resuming its tragic flight. The search for the vehicle and the rider is intensifying, as described in a statement obtained by NBC Boston.

An investigation led by Detective William Kannan of the Methuen Criminal Investigations Bureau, with support from the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, is currently underway. Pursuing every lead, the hope is to locate the rider who was last seen driving away from a scene where a life was left teetering on the edge of eternity. Residents with any information that could aid the police are urged to come forward and contact the Methuen Police Department at 978-983-8698, as echoed by MassLive.