Natasha Pettigrew Was Died Because Of Her Accident

Natasha Pettigrew had been fatally injured when her bicycle was struck early Sunday morning. A Green Party candidate running for U.S. Senate in Maryland has died because of her injuries.

“As a party, we have never experienced a loss like this,” said Brian Bittner, party Co-Chair. “We all looked forward to working with Natasha for years to come.”

Maryland State Police say 30-year-old Natasha Pettigrew died early Tuesday. She was hit by an SUV in Prince George's County early Sunday.

Pettigrew was on leave from her studies at the University of Miami to run for the seat currently held by Senator Barbara Mikulski. “Natasha was a bright, hardworking young woman who had talked to many Maryland voters as a candidate and meant much to many Marylanders as a person. She had incredible potential as a future leader for this party and this state.”

“Natasha’s intellect and charisma impressed everyone she met,” said Karen Jennings, party Co-Chair. “We’ll never know what great things could have come from this bright young woman.”

Police say the woman driving the Cadillac Escalade that hit Pettigrew kept driving nearly four miles to her home, even though the bicycle was still lodged underneath the vehicle.

Police say the woman thought she hit a deer or a dog and didn't want to stop in the early morning hours. When she and her husband found the bicycle under the SUV, they called police.