A cyclist was struck and killed by a vehicle in Lakewood, and authorities are searching for the driver who fled the scene.

At approximately 5:45pm last night, Officers responded to the report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle in the area of Cedarbridge Avenue and South Clover Street.

Upon arrival, Officers located a 55 year old Lakewood woman with severe head injuries and other apparent serious injuries to her body. She was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus where she succumbed to her injuries a short time later.

Investigation at the scene revealed that the woman was riding a bicycle eastbound on Cedarbridge Avenue when she was struck by an older Toyota 4Runner with out of state license plates. That vehicle fled the scene prior to the officers arrival.

At this time the investigation is very much ongoing. Investigators from the Lakewood Police Department Traffic Safety Unit, Ocean County Prosecutors Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI are following up on several leads.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Lakewood Police Department at 732-363-0200 or the Ocean County Prosecutors Office at 732-929-2027.