As police in Gardena continued to search for the driver who killed a 5-year-old boy and his grandmother in a hit-and-run, the memorial for the victims was growing steps from where they were hit by a car.
Law enforcement received a call of a crash involving a vehicle and pedestrians around 10:30 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Marine Avenue and Budlong Avenue. There, police officers found two pedestrians on the road.
The child died at the scene, and the woman was taken to a nearby hospital, according to the Gardena Police Department. Candles, flowers and a teddy bear were placed near the deadly crash site as the victims’ family and friends processed the tragedy.
A relative identified the the deceased as Patrick Mateo Chacon and female victim as Emma Chacon, who was hospitalized with a broken leg.
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Police believed the driver behind the wheel of a dark-colored SUV turned north on Budlong Avenue when the car hit the pedestrians at the crosswalk before taking off in the same direction.
Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call Investigator Jose Zamudio at 310-217-6189 or Sergeant Daniel Guzzo at 310-217-6122.
