Family Searching For Leads After Young Father Killed In Hit-And-Run
WILMINGTON (CBSLA.com) — The family of a San Pedro father killed by a hit-and-run driver last Monday are searching for leads in his case.
Manuel Ayala, 26, was killed crossing Pacific Coast Highway near Wilmington Blvd. around 7:45p.m. last Monday.
Security footage shown exclusively on CBS2 shows several cars, including a police cruiser, passing Ayala as he crosses. He is hit seconds later.
Since Friday, Ayala's family and girlfriend have handed out fliers at the crash site in hopes of finding the driver.
"We're going to do anything we can do to find these people that did this to him," said Myra Duenas, the victim's girlfriend.
Through their efforts the family located a witness to the crash who said she yelled at the driver to stop.
Two women were in the car that struck Ayala, according to the witness. After impact they reportedly stopped and looked at the victim briefly before driving away.
"It was just too graphic," Duenas said. "I don't want to put any words into that. It was just hard to hear."
Ayala was on life support as doctors tried to locate his family. On Wednesday, the hospital found Ayala's mother, Laura Schumann.
"We got to spend about 24 hours with him," she said. "And I felt that it was time to let my son rest."
Ayala leaves behind a sister, brother and 4-year-old daughter.
"She is four but she knows that someone is missing," said Duenas. "Someone that was there with her at all times. The person that put her to sleep. And he's no longer there anymore."
Police said witnesses were unable to take down the license plate but describe the car as a gray sedan with damage to the front windshield.
Anyone with information is asked to call authorities.
