“HE HAD JUST TURNED 16”: BOY KILLED IN HORRIFIC HIT-AND-RUN AS SISTER FIGHTS TO RECOVER — $50,000 REWARD OFFERED

Hernan Martinez was walking home with his mother and younger sister after a trip to collect asthma medication when a speeding car allegedly ran a stop sign and struck the children. Hernan never made it home. Now, police are appealing to the public to help find the woman they identify as the suspected driver.

A family in South Los Angeles is facing unimaginable heartbreak after 16-year-old Hernan Martinez was killed in a hit-and-run collision that left his younger sister seriously injured.

The crash happened at approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 22, 2026, near the intersection of West 60th Street and South 10th Avenue in the Hyde Park neighbourhood.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), a blue Nissan Sentra was travelling at high speed when its driver allegedly ran a stop sign and struck Hernan and his younger sister, Vicky, as they crossed the street with their mother.

Hernan was pronounced dead at the scene. Vicky was taken to hospital with serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis, and required surgery.

More than a month after the tragedy, the search for the suspected driver continues. On October 22, police announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

For Hernan’s family, the appeal is about more than finding answers. It is about a teenage boy whose future was cut short just days after celebrating his 16th birthday.

A FAMILY WALK HOME THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

The Martinez family had reportedly moved into the neighbourhood only about a week before the collision.

That Tuesday evening, Hernan, Vicky and their mother had gone to collect medication for Vicky’s asthma. They were walking home when the Nissan approached the intersection.

Investigators said the car travelled through the stop sign at speed before striking the siblings.

At a news conference on October 22, LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno said investigators believed the vehicle was travelling at more than 80 mph before the collision.

The impact left Hernan on the vehicle’s windshield. According to detectives, the car continued moving before crashing into parked vehicles.

Moreno alleged that the driver swerved the vehicle in an apparent attempt to dislodge Hernan before the car finally stopped.

The driver and passenger then reportedly got out and fled the scene.

The allegations have intensified the family’s anguish as investigators work to establish the full sequence of events.

A NEIGHBOUR RUSHED TO HELP

Residents nearby heard the collision and rushed outside to see what had happened.

Neighbour Jerome Alexander told the Los Angeles Times that he initially heard an unusually loud crash. When he went outside, he saw the wrecked car and the injured children.

He described finding Vicky partially trapped beneath a parked vehicle and initially unconscious. Her mother was desperately calling to her as neighbours tried to help.

The scene was chaotic, with residents attempting to assist the family while emergency services were contacted.

For those who witnessed the aftermath, the incident was deeply distressing. For Hernan’s mother, it was the beginning of a devastating loss that no parent should have to endure.

Vicky survived, but her injuries required significant medical attention. Her family was left trying to support her recovery while also grieving her brother.

“HE HAD JUST TURNED 16”

Hernan’s family described him as a gentle, intelligent and creative teenager with a wide range of interests.

He enjoyed baking, cooking, crocheting and arts and crafts. His older brother, Eliseo Martinez, spoke about his talent and the potential he believed Hernan had for the future.

The teenager had celebrated his 16th birthday only five days before the collision.

That detail has made the loss particularly painful for those who loved him. He had only recently reached a new milestone in his life, with years of opportunities still ahead of him.

His family also remembered him as someone who listened to his mother and cared deeply about the people closest to him.

The family’s move to the neighbourhood had been recent, and they were still settling into their new surroundings when the collision occurred.

Instead of building new memories in their home, they have been forced to confront a future without Hernan.

VICKY’S LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

While the family mourns Hernan, Vicky has been recovering from serious injuries sustained in the collision.

Relatives said she suffered a fractured pelvis and needed surgery.

Her recovery has placed additional emotional and practical demands on the family, who must navigate medical care while coping with the loss of a son and brother.

The circumstances have also left the family with difficult questions about how the crash happened and why the occupants of the vehicle allegedly left without remaining at the scene.

Public reports have not provided a comprehensive, up-to-date account of Vicky’s condition, so the full extent of her recovery remains unclear.

What is known is that she survived an extraordinarily traumatic event and now faces a recovery period while her family continues to grieve.

POLICE IDENTIFY THE SUSPECTED DRIVER

On October 22, the LAPD publicly identified Raygine Glentasia Evans as the woman suspected of driving the Nissan.

Detectives said the driver and a female passenger left the damaged vehicle and ran away. The passenger was identified as Joannae Shavon Rosby.

Investigators alleged that the two women took belongings from the vehicle before being collected by another car, described as a red Honda Accord.

Police have also said Evans is sought in connection with a separate investigation into 10 robberies in Los Angeles. That investigation is distinct from the fatal collision.

Authorities have reported that Evans previously received nine traffic citations involving allegations such as reckless driving and failing to stop at stop signs.

Those citations form part of the information released during the search, but they are not proof of guilt in the collision involving Hernan and Vicky.

As of the latest reports reviewed for this article, Evans remained wanted in connection with the fatal hit-and-run. Police had not announced a confirmed arrest.

The allegations against Evans have not been adjudicated in court, and she must be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

A $50,000 REWARD AS POLICE APPEAL FOR HELP

With investigators seeking further information, the LAPD announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Detectives said they had pursued investigative leads and were turning to the public for help locating Evans.

The appeal asks anyone who may know her whereabouts or have information relevant to the collision to contact authorities.

Investigators hope that witnesses, surveillance footage or other information could help establish what happened before and after the crash.

The reward reflects the urgency of the search, but it cannot undo the loss suffered by Hernan’s family.

For relatives, the priority remains finding answers and ensuring that the circumstances of the collision are fully examined.

A COMMUNITY LEFT ASKING FOR SAFER STREETS

The collision has also renewed concerns among Hyde Park residents about speeding and drivers failing to obey stop signs.

Neighbours told local reporters that dangerous driving had been a longstanding concern in the area. Some said they hoped the tragedy would lead to greater attention to pedestrian safety.

Those concerns have taken on a painful significance following the deaths and injuries associated with serious road collisions in the neighbourhood.

However, any decisions about road design, traffic calming or additional safety measures will require assessment by the relevant authorities.

The immediate investigation remains focused on identifying and locating the suspected driver and establishing the circumstances of the September 22 collision.

HERNAN’S FAMILY DESERVES ANSWERS

Hernan Martinez should have been looking forward to the months and years ahead. Instead, his family is left with memories of a boy whose life ended just days after his 16th birthday.

His younger sister survived, but she faces recovery from serious injuries. Their mother must carry the grief of losing one child while supporting another through the aftermath.

The $50,000 reward is now part of a wider appeal for information, as investigators continue their search for the woman identified as the suspected driver.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the LAPD South Traffic Division or submit an anonymous tip through Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.

For the Martinez family, no reward can replace Hernan. But information that helps investigators establish what happened could bring them closer to answers after a tragedy that has changed their lives forever.