Highway Hit-and-Run: Family Seeks Driver Who Killed Mother of Four
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the November 6 death of Ruby Ortiz on the 118 Freeway, a case that has left her family demanding answers about an abandoned car and a fleeing driver.
By Andrew Bennett ·
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office attributed the death of 33-year-old Ruby Ortiz to blunt force trauma sustained in a hit-and-run accident. The incident occurred just after 6 a.m. on Friday, November 6, in the westbound lanes of the 118 Freeway. The crash took place just west of the Interstate 5 interchange in the Mission Hills area, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Ortiz was a mother of four. Her family members are now focused on understanding the sequence of events that led to her death and the subsequent departure of the driver. Modesta de Los Santos, Ortiz’s mother, said the entire family, including her grandchildren, is seeking clarity on the circumstances. "Toda la familia, mis nietos piden respuestas, ¿por qué lo hicieron? ¿qué le pasó?’, she said.
Celeste Miranda, Ortiz’s sister, stated that authorities have only confirmed the accident as a hit-and-run. The family continues to question how Ortiz ended up on the freeway. Miranda noted that investigators found an abandoned vehicle near the scene. The car was discovered with its door open. Although an official link to the fatal collision has not been confirmed, Miranda believes it is connected.
"Estaba abandonado con la puerta abierta", Miranda said. "Mi hermana estaba en ese carro. Una persona ha confirmado que la miró en ese carro con alguien más." This testimony suggests Ortiz was inside the abandoned vehicle with another person before the crash.
The family is also pressing for details on the driver who struck Ortiz. They want to know why the driver did not stop to check on her condition after the impact. "Tal vez si se hubiera parado, tal vez ella podría estar viva. Si se hubiera parado a ver, a check", Miranda said. The lack of immediate assistance is a central point of inquiry for the relatives.
The California Highway Patrol continues its investigation into the case. No description of the vehicle involved in the fatal impact has been released to the public. The family has publicly asked for assistance in identifying the driver and clarifying the details of Ortiz’s final hours.
