Cal State LA Student Speaks From Hospital Bed After Brutal Hacienda Heights Hit-and-Run

Isabel Gonzales may never walk again.

Before crossing the street in Hacienda Heights on Valentine's Day, the 18-year-old Cal State Los Angeles honor student's life was totally different.

Now Gonzales speaks out from her hospital bed, often wincing through the pain just to speak.

"You can't just leave someone out there like that. It's horrible," Gonzales said.

The California Highway Patrol is still searching for the driver Saturday.

Donna Gonzales, Isabel's mother refuses the thought that her daughter will never walk again.

"She tells me when I'm teary-eyed not to cry. She goes, 'don't cry, mom. I'm going to be fine.'" Gonzales said.

It was on Sunday, Feb. 14, when Isabel and her boyfriend were crossing at Gale at Riderwood Avenue that a car struck her and took off, leaving her in the intersection with a fractured skull, crushed pelvis, and a lacerated kidney.

"It's just not fair. I hope they catch him," Isabel said. "I want to be in school. I know I'm not going to finish school in a year."

Isabel is facing the thought of finishing college — with the aspirations of becoming a doctor — in a motorized wheelchair.

"The campus is so huge. She's not going to be able to walk from one class to another," Donna said.

Isabel's family set up a GoFundMe account for the teen to help with the staggering cost of her medical recovery.

"I hope I can just get out of this bed," Isabel said. "It hurts so bad."