Family of fatal North Hollywood hit-and-run victim wants justice served
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The heartbroken family of a woman who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in North Hollywood Friday is asking the person responsible to come forward.
Eva Esquivel can't believe someone hit her daughter and did not even bother to stop and render aid, but instead left her in the street to die.
"Please turn yourself in. Don't be a coward," said Esquivel. "She was coming from her doctor. She didn't deserve this and I don't deserve this either."
Police say 57-year-old Melva Chapman of Sun Valley was crossing the street at Saticoy Street and Lemp Avenue in North Hollywood at about 8:20 p.m. Friday when the driver of a white or silver Toyota pickup truck hit her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
"I just wish you weren't a coward. Just turn yourself in. My mom is 90 years old. We miss my sister bad," said Gloria Gallarca, Chapman's sister.
Los Angeles police respond to a fatal hit-and-run collision in North Hollywood on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015.
A makeshift memorial has since been set up near the scene of the tragedy.
"He left her out there just like a dog or something," said Rose Rouard, Chapman's sister. "She was a human being. She was a mother, she was a sister and she was also a daughter, and it's not right for anybody to leave anybody out there like that."
The family says they can't have closure until the person who hit their loved one is behind bars.
"My mom needs to get some peace. She's hurting very bad, very bad," Gallarca said.
"I loved my daughter because she was my baby," Esquivel said.
"All we're asking is for that person to man up now and just come forward and say, 'I did it, I got scared, I left,' but man up," Rouard said.
The suspect's vehicle is believed to have a small dent on the brake light in the rear left panel. Anyone with further information was urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division at (818) 644-8000. You can also contact LAPD at (877) LAPD-24-7 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
