Sheriff's Asking For Public's Help To Locate Hit-And-Run Suspect Driving Party Bus
NORWALK (CBSLA.com) — Sheriff's Deputies in Norwalk are hoping the public can help identify the hit-and-driver who left a pedestrian with major injuries in Norwalk.
The victim, a 26-year-old man, was walking on Fairford Ave around 2:30 a.m. Saturday when he was struck by the suspect's vehicle, which was driving southbound.
The victim -- now identified as Efren Virgen Jr. of Norwalk -- was dragged by the vehicle for over two hundred feet and suffered major injuries.
His family told KCAL9's Laurie Perez that he is on life support, suffered a torn pelvis and is in a medically-induced coma.
Virgen is a father of two daughters (aged 3 and 8). His family told us he works as a refuse collector for the city of Long Beach.
The suspect vehicle is described as a black "party bus", the type of vehicle that is often rented out by groups for special events.
As the suspect's vehicle drove past a witness, he saw interior neon lights were flashing, and heard music coming from inside. The vehicle was last seen turning westbound on Foster Road.
Officials are looking for witnesses that were either on the bus, or have knowledge of any similar vehicle that may have been in the Norwalk area at or near the time of the accident.
Virgen was apparently walking home from a local bar -- about two blocks from his home -- without identification. He arrived at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood as a John Doe.
His family is grateful to the witness who called 911.
"When you hit a person," said Carmen Virgen, the victim's sister, "and you run, that is so inhumane. How can you leave someone laying there? I'm pretty sure the driver of that bus is family to someone. They wouldn't like that to be done to them as well."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Norwalk Station at (562) 863-8711. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you can call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or by using the Crime Stoppers website.
