$50K Reward Offered For Driver In Fatal Highland Park Hit-And-Run
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles City Council Friday announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a hit-and-run driver that killed a woman.
Gloria Ortiz, 57, had just left a celebratory family dinner when she killed on the evening Sept. 14 as she crossed the street at Avenue 50 and San Marco Place in Highland Park, the LAPD said.
"The driver never applied the brakes and fled southbound on Avenue 50. According to witnesses, the driver was possibly distracted by his cellphone," said police.
KCAL9's Amy Johnson spoke with Yesenia Ortiz, daughter of the victim, at a news conference held Friday afternoon.
"I really don't have words to tell you what I feel," said Ortiz. "Somebody took her life. I wasn't prepared for this."
The vehicle, driven by a Hispanic man, was described as an older model Honda Civic.
Ortiz, who was a Salvadoran immigrant and had just become a U.S. citizen, was transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital where she died from her injuries.
"She finally became a citizen, that was her dream," Ortiz explained. "When she finally reached her dream, somebody out of nowhere took her life."
Anyone with information on the accident should contact the LAPD's Central Traffic Detectives at (213)833-3713.
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