Deadly New Year's Eve hit-and-run in Minneapolis

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Aisha Freels

Minneapolis police are searching for the driver involved in a deadly New Year’s Eve hit-and-run near the intersection of 39th Avenue N. and Lyndale Avenue N. Police said a woman was crossing the street to get into a taxi around 9:30 p.m. when she was struck by a light blue sedan.

The woman died at the scene and police are still looking for the driver, who did not stop. The car was last seen traveling south on Lyndale Avenue and turning onto westbound 39th Avenue North.

"Investigators and officers are making contact with residents and people on foot at the time of the crash,” Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder said.

Family members identified the victim as Aisha Freels, a 36-year-old mother of four. Two of her children were home at the time of the crash. The local hairstylist grew up in a big Minneapolis family, and they said she used to braid Randy Moss' hair during his time with the Vikings.

“She had a heart as big as the moon,” said Freels’ mother, Angela Jackson. “She was loved by so many people.”

The Minneapolis Police Department’s Traffic Unit is investigating, and anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

“Whoever did this, please come forward,” said Freels’ father, Eddie Ballard, Jr. “You took a beautiful life. It wasn’t her time to go.”