A driver suspected in a hit-and-run crash that killed an 83-year-old grandmother crossing the street in Whittier Monday night surrendered at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Norwalk station, officials said.
Investigators said the woman, identified by her family as Porfiria Salgado, was crossing at Telegraph Road and Gunn Avenue about 7:25 p.m. when a car struck her and sped off.
The driver, identified as 22-year-old Norwalk resident Justin Brooks, turned himself in the same night, Sheriff's Lt. Eric Smitson said. Brooks was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. There was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved, officials said.
Salgado's grandson, Juan Jaimes, said she was visiting from Mexico and had dropped off her 9-year-old granddaughter at a dance class before the crash. She died in the street in front of her family.
"You see the ambulance doing their work. They tell me that she's still breathing, she still has a pulse. I wait and then I see they ended up covering her," Jaimes said.
Witnesses said it appeared Salgado was not in a marked crosswalk when she was struck.
"She just comes and visits her grandchildren, and this happens," Jaimes said.
Michelle Jaimes said she had spoken to her grandmother about how to safely cross the street.
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"She told me, 'I'm going to go home.' I told her press the light - always press the light. She said, 'OK.'"
Salgado's family said she had a ranch in Mexico, where she cared for her livestock. She leaves behind one daughter and several grandchildren.
Hetty Chang contributed to this report.
