A 23-year-old woman was killed and her brother was critically injured Saturday night while on their way to celebrate Mother's Day when the car they were in was struck by a hit-and-run driver who police say might have been street racing in Willowbrook.
Bethany Holguin, of Compton, was killed in the crash about 11:30 p.m. at 131st street at Towne Avenue. Her brother, Emilio, 20, was in critical condition at a hospital.
A 2005 Infiniti heading west at high speeds failed to stop at the intersection and broadsided a 2005 Toyota Camry carrying the two victims.
The driver and passenger from the Infiniti entered a red sedan it had been racing with and it fled the scene.
Family members started showing up to the crash site to mourn the loss of Holguin, who leaves behind a 6-year-old girl. The daughter is at school and family hasn't told her that her mother died, family members said.
"You took our cousin," Miguel Holguin. "She left behind a daughter."
Bethany Holguin's boyfriend, Rafael, added: "How could you see someone injured and not help? Take responsibility for your actions."
Holguin was going to pick up her daughter then head out to Hemet to be with her mom for Mother's Day. But family members started to worry when Holguin had not answered any texts or calls.
It wasn't until 12 hours after the crash that the family learned of her death.
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Neighbors described the terrifying scene as they tried to help Holguin as she sit helpless in her crumpled car.
"I couldn't do anything to help her," said Fabiola Rodriguez, who heard the crash outside her home while celebrating Mother's Day with her family. "She was still alive and asking for help. But we couldn't do anything because the car was in really, really bad condition."
Randy Jackson also tried to help.
"The side impact was so severe, nobody could get her out," he said. "We couldn't get her out."
Rick Montanez contributed to this report.
