A family was mourning the death of a father after her was run down and killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Family members believe Victor Herrera died trying to protect his daughter, as the father was walking home with his child shortly before the fatal incident took place. Herrera was walking home from a nearby liquor store after grabbing a late night snack with his 12-year-old daughter.
Surveillance cameras catch the scene, as Herrera appears to exchange words with a driver at a traffic light, after visiting Fox Liquor Store in Long Beach around 11 p.m. on Saturday night.
Perhaps sensing danger, Herrera told his daughter to run home. Family members can be seen running towards the intersection.
Seconds later, the driver of the red sedan appears to wait at a nearby parking lot before speeding towards Herrera.
"All I seen was headlights coming straight for us," says Daniel Escobar, Herrera's nephew.
Escobar adds, "I believe that his kids were his best friend."
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Shortly after hitting Herrera, police tried to pull over the same driver, 29-year-old Sokhorn Hor. Hor was arrested after crashing into a parked car, and authorities say the driver appeared to be intoxicated.
The arrest is hardly comforting for a family in mourning.
"There is no justice for something like this," Escobar says.
Delores Herrera, the victim's mother, says, "My heart is aching for him...he was my baby."
A new baby earlier this year meant that Herrera had only recently become a grandfather, but sadly, he won't be around to see his children and grandchildren grow up.
The family has set up a GoFundMe.
If you would like to donate to a GoFundMe, you may do so here. Note that GoFundMe deducts a percentage of all funds raised in the form of platform and payment processing charges.
