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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Authorities are continuing to look for the driver responsible for hitting and killing a Clearlake Oaks woman and then fleeing the scene last week.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the woman who died was Candy May Henderson, 60.
Along with Henderson, authorities confirmed that her little dog, Sam, died when they were hit by a vehicle at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said Henderson and Sam were crossing Highway 20, west of Orchard Shores, when they were hit by a vehicle that was traveling westbound.
The vehicle’s driver subsequently fled the crash, the CHP said.
Henderson and Sam died at the scene.
After the crash, the CHP said the vehicle involved was described as a 2009 to 2013 blue Ford Focus and that it was believed to be in the Clearlake area.
Lt. Dan Fansler, the Clear Lake Area office’s commander, told Lake County News that officers worked on the case diligently throughout the weekend.
He said they found the suspect vehicle, the blue Ford Focus, abandoned in the Clearlake city limits early Thursday morning.
“The vehicle has been collected as evidence by CHP,” Fansler said.
However, the search is continuing for the vehicle’s driver.
Meanwhile, community members are planning a memorial event for Henderson and Sam from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Nylander Park in Clearlake Oaks.
Henderson was reported to be homeless, and often was seen walking along the highway with a stroller.
Her daughter has started a GoFundMe page to cover Henderson’s final arrangements.
“She struggled with mental illness her whole life,” said her daughter, Tiffany Blakesley, on the GoFundMe page. “I am her youngest daughter and am currently in school trying to become a nurse. My mom was loving, kind, and compassionate. She loved animals, including her pet Sam.”
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Sgt. Joel Skeen at the CHP’s Clear Lake Area office at 707-281-5200.
Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.
