TIFFANY CRAWFORD
MAPLE RIDGE — The victim of a fatal hit and run in Maple Ridge late Thursday was a 31-year-old veterinary assistant and doting mother, who loved all animals.
Police have not identified the woman who was killed by a vehicle on Lougheed Highway about 10 p.m., but her friends have identified her as Tassis Vix.
Vix worked as a veterinary assistant for 15 years at the Haney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge.
Her colleague, Jyoti Talwar, said staff are absolutely heartbroken. She said Vix was a warm, lovable person who was like family.
“I don’t have words to express how I feel right now. She was my family,” she said.
She described her friend as someone who loved her job and had a passion for helping different types of animals.
“She was so friendly with everyone. So caring. She was such a good human and loved all animals, and even had an iguana and a snake at home — you know, because she loved all creatures.”
Talwar said Vix was a loving mother and leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter.
She urged the person who was driving the vehicle to “do the right thing” and come forward to police.
Ridge Meadows RCMP confirmed Friday that they were investigating a fatal hit and run.
Shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday, a female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle travelling west in the 21800-block of Lougheed Highway, according to RCMP.
The vehicle did not remain in the area and the woman died, police said.
Police were looking for any witnesses who were in the area at the time of the incident, including those with on-board dash cameras that might have video of the incident or the aftermath.
Lougheed Highway was shut down between 216th and 222nd streets as police investigated the collision.
The RCMP and the coroner are investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leave a tip online at solvecrime.ca.
