Six-year-old Kemberly was playing in the front lawn of the family's South Los Angeles home with her ball. It went out into the street and she went after it.
Kemberly's family watched in horror as she was struck by an SUV. She was rushed to the hospital where she later died.
"My daughter is not with me," said the victim's father Jose Arrue. "They (took) a part of my heart. But I know she is with God."
City Councilwoman Jan Perry announced that the city will offer a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the driver.
"We want the driver to know what I am feeling right now," said Arrue. "It is not easy for me. Because when you wake up, you want to think it's a dream, but when you wake up, you need to see the real life."
The SUV was heading westbound on 49th Place when it hit the girl. According to the family, the driver continued driving toward Hoover Street.
"Had the motorist stopped and stayed there would not have been any criminal charges because it was an accident, it was an unintentional act," said Detective Jimmy Render. "But the mere fact that the motorist fled, which makes it very criminal."
Arrue told Eyewitness News off camera that every night when he got home from work, Kemberly would bring him his slippers. Tuesday night, he said, Kemberly told him he looked tired and would bring him some tea. A couple of hours later, she was hit by the SUV.
"I grabbed her and I yell, 'help me, they killed my daughter,'" said Arrue describing the incident. A candlelight vigil was planned Friday in her neighborhood at 7:30 p.m.
It has been reported that an Eyewitness News viewer, who owns California Paving Company, has offered to install speed bumps free of charge. A representative from Perry's office said the offer could expedite the process since there is a hold on installing speed bumps due to funding issues.
Meantime, the family is asking for the public's help in finding the driver responsible for their grief. Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the LAPD at (877) LAPD-24-7, or the LAPD South Traffic Division at (213) 485-7336.
