Looters Try to Steal From Car With Hit-and-Run Victims Inside

Looters converged on a fatal hit-and-run accident, trying to steal items from a car as the driver lay dying inside, according to outraged police. The looters and the other driver fled the scene.

The accident occurred Saturday night when a truck ran a stop sign and collided with the car, sending both vehicles into a fence. Police had not found the truck’s driver by Monday night.

The first police officer on the scene said he found several people trying to take items from the car while victims were still inside. Police were still looking for the would-be thieves Monday night.

“It’s particularly disturbing to us as police officers . . . to have individuals who should have been in a position to render first aid or assistance to instead choose to rob them,” Police Chief Don Christ said.

The car’s driver, Avaneta A. Hessaraki, 35, died about an hour after being taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital.

Passengers Hazel James, 73, Carol Chambers, 35, and Nayfreh Kronevise, 54, were treated at Wishard and released.

Police said the group was returning from shopping at a downtown mall and had bags in the car that held their purchases. The looters ran when police arrived.

Hessaraki’s sister, Shirley Benton, said she was appalled by the looters’ actions.

“That’s just horrible to see what our world is coming to,” Benton said.