KATY, Texas – A troubled Army veteran was killed by a hit-and-run driver Monday night as she rode her bicycle on a poorly lit road in Katy. Now her family and police want answers.
The crash was reported at 11:50 p.m. in the 2300 block of Elrod Road.
Investigators said Tonashia Lavergne-Profit was riding a bicycle, which was not equipped with the required lighting, in the middle southbound lane when a dark-colored pickup truck struck her. The pickup fled the scene without calling for help, officials said.
Lavergne-Profit was found dead at the scene, officials said. Investigators believe Lavergne-Profit died instantly.
"I see it on the news all the time. I never thought it would happen to my family," said Lavergne-Prophet's father, Jeffie Prophet.
Lavergne-Profit served in the U.S. Army as heavy equipment operator beginning in 2002, including a tour in Afghanistan. After she returned home she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
“She worked, had good jobs, then just in the last three to four years she started going down,” Lavergne-Prophet's mother, Rheda Prophet said.
Her family knows finding the hit-and-run driver who took her life won’t bring her back, but her mother says it would bring them some peace.
“It would give us closure to realize whoever did it. He won’t be able to do it to someone else’s kid,” Rheda Prophet said.
Jeffie Prophet said it would also help them to know his daughter got justice.
“It would help me,” he said. “Just knowing I know somebody is going to get punished for what they did. Not going to go unpunished.”
The crash is under investigation by the Harris County Sheriff's Office Vehicular Crimes Division. Police are asking anyone with information call Crime Stoppers of Houston, which offers a reward of up to $5,000.