South County Journal -- Leads South In Hit-And-Run Death

Leads sought in hit-and-run death: Pierce County sheriff's deputies this morning stopped hundreds of cars along Waller Road East in an effort to find witnesses to the hit-and-run-death of 12-year-old Riisa Wilber.

Riisa was fatally struck near her home Tuesday about 7:50 a.m. in the 7000 block of Waller Road East, east of Tacoma as she walked to get the morning newspaper for her grandfather.

Six deputies canvassed the area between 7 and 8:30 a.m., passing out 500 fliers, said spokesman Curt Benson. Deputies were to pass out fliers at Puyallup, Franklin-Pierce and Washington high schools later today.

Benson said detectives had no leads. A 1975 Oldsmobile found abandoned a mile away had been stolen the day before the accident, he said.

Tests on the car, to determine whether it was the one that struck Riisa, will be conducted by the state crime lab. They might not be complete for up to a month.

A fund has been created to help the family pay for funeral costs. Contributions can be made to the Riisa Wilber Fund at the B.N. West Credit Union in Tacoma, 3633 Pacific Ave. Donations also can be mailed to the credit union: Attention, Michelle Miller, P.O. Box 8700, Tacoma, WA 98418.