By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MONROE - Authorities are searching for the motorist whose van struck two people, but their investigation was at a standstill Monday, a highway patrolman said.

"They drove off the road, hit two people, killed one, and left," said Sgt. Michael Asbrock of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Hamilton post.

"It's very, very frustrating when you have something this serious and you have absolutely nothing to go on - and that's where we're at."

Shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 75 just south of Ohio 63, Alison Johnson, 25, and Antwan Stewart, 28, both of Pleasant Ridge, pulled over because their vehicle had a flat tire. A van drove off the road and struck both of them as they attended to the flat.

They were taken to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, and Johnson was pronounced dead.

Asbrock said he didn't think the pair could have done much differently to avoid being struck, except possibly pulling entirely off the roadway onto a grassy area.

"They didn't do anything wrong," he said.

Stewart, who escaped serious injury, said he will not rest until there is justice for Johnson.

"Yes, he knew what he did," Stewart told WCPO-TV. "He knew he's going to pay, judgment day, he's going to pay."

Investigators have contacted repair shops, asking them to be on the lookout for a dark-colored GMC van that needs its right front chrome headlight assembly replaced. That piece was left at the scene, Asbrock said.

Hit-skip fatalities are rare, Asbrock said. In his 25 years as a trooper, he has only seen two hit-skips; one remains unsolved.

Anyone with information is asked to call 863-4606 and ask for the on-duty supervisor, Asbrock said.

Arrangements for Johnson will be handled by the Burnam & Son Mortuary in Bowling Green, Ky.

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E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com