Nicolasa Ventura Colaj Killed in New Bedford Hit-and-Run After New Year’s Eve Church Service – January 1, 2026 Fatal SUV Crash

In the early hours of January 1, 2026, a fatal hit-and-run incident occurred along Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Authorities reported that Nicolasa Ventura Colaj, 33, a resident of New Bedford, had just departed a church gathering with members of her family shortly after midnight when she was struck by a passing sport utility vehicle.

Colaj was transported to a nearby hospital following the collision but later died from her injuries. According to officials with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the vehicle involved in the crash left the scene immediately, and investigators have not publicly released a description of the SUV. The New Bedford Police Department, alongside the district attorney’s office, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.