Hit-and-Run Suspected in Death Of Elderly Woman in Alleyway

An 84-year-old woman died yesterday morning after an apparent hit-and-run driver struck her as she walked in an alley behind the Northwest Washington retirement community where she lived, police said.

Authorities said Mary Gaegler was hit about 5:20 a.m. behind Chevy Chase House in the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It was unclear why Gaegler was outside the building at that time. Police said she was last seen alive between 1:30 and 2 a.m.

Residents described Gaegler as very social and said she attended a Catholic Mass in the building as often as possible. Records indicate that she had lived in the District for at least 25 years.

"She was a lovely lady," said Ruth Ziebarth, who lives at Chevy Chase House.

Another resident noted that Gaegler often checked on the flowers that bloomed in front of the building to make sure they were well tended.

When Ruth Broumas moved to the apartment building two years ago, she said, Gaegler was one of the first people to welcome her.

"She wanted to greet me and hope I stayed a long time," Broumas said.

A spokesman for Chevy Chase House declined to provide details about the incident or Gaegler. The narrow alley where she was hit provides access to garages for homes on Legation Street as well as to a parking lot and a loading dock. Benches and white and lavender petunias line the back of Chevy Chase House.

"The death of any resident is always a sad occurrence and a concern to us," Tim Mayer, a spokesman for the facility, said in a written statement. "As far as what occurred today, the resident's death is under investigation and until there are more facts, we have nothing further to add."

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 202-727-9099 or Crime Solvers at 800-673-2777.