Jamestown police had been looking for a silver colored Toyota Rav4, believed to be involved in a hit-and-run incident that left a woman with serious leg injuries.

Through the state DMV, a list of 96 vehicles matching the SUV’s description was obtained, and officers began a two-week-long search.

However, a tip from the public helped investigators track down the 2012 Rav4 and its driver much more quickly.

On Wednesday, 52-year-old Tammy L. Sawyer turned herself into police after her SUV was located on the south side of the city. The Cherry Creek resident is facing charges of felony leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, failure to yield to a pedestrian and speed not reasonable and prudent.

The charges are the result of an April 16 incident in which a pedestrian was struck while in the crosswalk in front of UPMC Chautauqua hospital. Video from the collision reportedly shows Sawyer’s vehicle strike the pedestrian on the rain-soaked road and continue driving on Foote Avenue.

Tammy Sawyer

The hit-and-run occurred at night.

The pedestrian was treated at the hospital before she was transported to UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pa. She reportedly suffered serious injuries to her legs, and remains in treatment at another facility, police said.

Investigators had been looking for the SUV since the incident, noting that the vehicle likely had damage to its front end.

Capt. Robert Samuelson of the Jamestown Police Department said investigators had already inspected all silver colored Rav4s from owners who lived in the city of Jamestown. He said officers were about to expand their searches to outside the city when a tip was received that a vehicle with front end damage was parked on the south side of the city.

The SUV was located, and the part that was recovered from the scene was quickly matched. The vehicle was impounded Tuesday.

“We were able to locate a piece of the vehicle that was left at the scene (of the crash),” Samuelson said, “We found a code on the piece of the vehicle, and as a result, we knew that it belonged to a 2009 to 2012 Toyota Rav4. … Through a search of the state DMV we were able to determine that 96 such vehicles were in the county alone.”

Samuelson said the department received several tips from the public. Though it was the one received Tuesday that led officers to Sawyer.

“We’re glad we were able to bring this to a conclusion,” Samuelson said.

Follow Eric Tichy at twitter.com/erictichy