Last month a detective from the Capitola Police Department in California told The Autopian that any help identifying a car from a few grainy screenshots would be “huge” in helping find the culprit. Fast forward just a few weeks later, and the police made an arrest, with the detective telling The Autopian, “thank you and your community for all the input and dedication.” This story made some waves, and now the Lexington Police Department needs our help.
“I’m an officer with the Lexington Police Department assisting with the investigation of a fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian hit-and-run,” begins the email from officer Daniel Boyko. “We are having trouble identifying the run vehicle from the two photos we have of it. I was encouraged by the success from the last such photos that your readers chimed in on.”
Boyko goes on to ask for our help, writing: “If you wouldn’t mind asking your readers to help out, I’ve attached the two photos we have.”
Boyko describes what he sees in the screengrabs, writing: “Appears to be a newer white crossover/SUV with the following distinguishing features: upswept rear window line, full length roof rails (no crossbars), two-panel or single large panel sun/moonroof, black rockers.”
To me, this looks BMW X-ish. What do you think? Any thoughts on model year and trim level?
Images: Lexington Police Department
I’m voting Volvo XC60 with the panoramic sunroof option. The last side window, headlights and grill look to be 2017 or lower. T5
https://www.european-motorcars.com/2017-volvo-xc60-t5-dynamic-c-1507/
https://www.herbchamberslexusofhingham.com/used/Volvo/2017-Volvo-XC60-920ad0e20a0e0a9209f3bda28388ac03.htm
First thought is X3, but I was thinking 2nd gen (F25) 2011-2017. In the pics the roof rails look flush to me. 1st gen didn’t have flush roof rails.
Not buying its a real request as its so obviously an X3.
A very resourceful cop to reach out to a site like this. Crowdsourcing done right…
Definitely a white e83 BMW X3 2007-2010 and it might have the M sport package. You can tell there is definitely a BMW grill on the front. Headlights match as well after the MCR that occurred for the e83 in 2007. Source: I own a 2007 BMW X3 with a pano roof.
Hmmm… Is your car white….?
I don’t think the lower front lights match those on an X3. I think it’s a Nissan Rogue like this one:
https://pictures.dealer.com/r/ramseynissanuppersaddleriver/1076/d35c63e716d03a7a69db69acb1a1ff14x.jpg
Agree with all those that said E83 X3. Was what came to mind from the second photo.
2003-2007 BMW X3 E83
Seemed to be an X3 with a busted headlight… The pano roof makes me think it was a forester at first, but foresters have smaller glass roofs..so, ill hit it at the X3
I was with you on Forester as initial instinct but agree the sunroof isnt that big. X3 it is!
My guess would be the 2012-2018 subaru forester. I can’t be certain, but from what I can see it appears to fit. Upswept rear quarter window, black straight rocker trim, angled ridges running down the hood to the outside edges of the grille, black fog lamp surrounds, and the sunroof and roof rails seem to match.
What do you all think?
If the side profile image is not distorted, the D-pillar appears to be far too wide to be any X3 generation.
From an Aussie perspective, it looks like a Nissan X-Trail, which is known as a Rogue in your country. The rails, sill and moonroof look right.
I own a first gen white X3 (I accept your pity), and even from the grainy first pic I thought X3. Also I have never been to Lexington, so let’s get that out of the way.
Here’s hoping they catch whoever is responsible.
I can see the resemblance to the X(3-ish). . .hard to tell of the photos, but I am not sure the front end lines up.
Going by the pictures on wiki for X3. . .I don’t think the lower grill lines up with the 1st or 2nd gen gen. Then in gen 3 and 4, we get to the big nostril era of BMW design. . .which looks a bit off from the photos with smaller grills.
Could just be the angle.
I might be able to make see a fuzzy spot that could be the bmw roundell.
But, at least we can eliminate the Dodge Hornet. . .cause one buys them.
Plenty of people have bought the hornet, they’re just all in the shop.
Having just sold my complete POS e83 x3, I agree that’s the car.
Clearly looks like intersection cams for traffic monitoring to remotely change signal duration. In the past, the DOT always said these cameras are not recorded. I in a similar case of hit and run but both in cars, tried to get footage from the cams and they said they don’t record them. I guess they at least do in this town record theirs.
I’m glad they do and can get justice for the family
I’m not entirely convinced this is an X3 due to the side width of the D pillar. It could be a Jeep Compass.
Bet it’s a E83 X3. Note the angled sunroof. https://www.dixonmotorsports.com/vehicles/20/2006-bmw-x3 (bottom right image). I thought it was a F25 due to the lack of cladding on the front bumper, but the sunroofs on them are less angled and the fog lights are in a different place. I’m willing to bet that it’s a 2006-2010 model, as the front bumper is a M sport variant and all 2006-10 US X3s had that kit. https://www.autoarp.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/X3-1-van-27-scaled.jpg
You are a lot more specific then I am!