$20K reward offered to find hit-run driver who left Santa Ana man on life support

Sid Garcia Image
Saturday, April 30, 2016
$20K offered to find hit-run driver who left Santa Ana man on life support
The city of Santa Ana and family of a hit-and-run victim announced a $20,000 reward to find the driver Friday.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The city of Santa Ana and family of a hit-and-run victim announced a $20,000 reward to find the driver Friday.



Ralph Chavez is devastated because his son Chris was critically injured after being struck by a car while using a crosswalk on April 20 at the intersection of Bristol Street and Central Avenue.



After more than a week on life support, doctors informed the family that the 26-year-old drum line instructor at Saddleback High School is not going to survive.



"We're going to keep him on life support though. We're going to have him be a donor. Christopher loved helping anybody - the community, the kids," his father said.



Santa Ana police said Chavez had a green light when the driver of a 5-series BMW ran the red light, hitting Chris. A witness took a photo of the woman getting out of the car and moments later she drove off.



The city, along with a number of the victim's family members, put together the reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect authorities say is responsible.



"Our family is broken. We have a lot of healing to do and my focus is for that. I just pray for the woman. That she just do the right thing," Chavez said.

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