Driver sought in hit-and-run death of 64-year-old Lancaster man

LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) -- A grieving family in Lancaster is guarding hope that witnesses will help identify the hit-and-run driver who killed 64-year old Trinidad Romo.

A father of four and grandfather of nine, Romo did not drive.

His family took him to his job at the Lancaster Cemetery where he had been a maintenance worker for 15 years.

Now he will be buried there.

He was struck and killed at 9 p.m. Saturday at the dimly lit intersection of Avenue I and 28th Street.

A security camera at Tupack's Liquor recorded the scene showing several vehicles in the vicinity.

The traffic investigator says they are now looking for a gold or burgundy Chevy Astro Star or GMC Safari. It braked after impact but then took off.

"There is damage to the passenger side, the front end of the vehicle and we believe a broken marker light," sheriff's Detective Ryan Bodily said.

"How could they just leave him there? They have to know what they did," said the victim's daughter, Lorena Romo.

Investigators are hoping for a break in the case. The video shows a potential witness in what appears to be a white Honda Accord, about to turn right when Romo is hit.

"The witness could confirm the color of the suspect vehicle, possibly tell us whether the driver was male or female, possibly ethnicity, partial license plate," Bodily said.

Trinidad "Trino" Romo was of modest means. His family has set up a GoFundMe account, Trino Funeral Expense.

The sheriff's department asked anyone with information to contact traffic investigators at (661)948-8466. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers at (800)222-TIPS; by texting the letters TIPLA plus the tip to CRIMES (274637), or online at lacrimestoppers.org.