HE HAD JUST TURNED 16: HERNAN MARTINEZ KILLED IN HORRIFIC HIT-AND-RUN AS HIS YOUNGER SISTER FIGHTS TO RECOVER

He was walking home with his mother and younger sister after a trip to collect asthma medication. Moments later, one sibling was gone, another was seriously injured, and the suspected driver had fled. Now, Los Angeles police are searching for a woman they say was behind the wheel.

A FAMILY’S ORDINARY EVENING ENDS IN TRAGEDY

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

The crash happened at around 9:30 p.m. on September 22, near the intersection of 10th Avenue and 60th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Hernan was walking with Vicky and their mother when a blue Nissan Sentra allegedly sped through a stop sign and struck the two children as they crossed the street.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the vehicle was travelling at an extremely high speed. At a news conference in October, a detective said investigators believed it had been travelling at more than 80 mph.

Hernan suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Vicky sustained serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis, and was taken to hospital for treatment and surgery.

Their mother survived the collision physically unharmed, but she was left facing the loss of one child while desperately hoping for the recovery of another.

THE TEENAGER HAD ONLY JUST CELEBRATED HIS 16TH BIRTHDAY

One of the most heartbreaking details is that Hernan had celebrated his 16th birthday just five days before the collision.

His family described him as a gentle, intelligent and creative teenager who enjoyed baking, cooking, crocheting and arts and crafts.

He was a young person with interests, talents and a future that his loved ones had every reason to look forward to.

His older brother, Eliseo Martinez, spoke publicly about the family’s loss, describing Hernan as exceptionally talented and someone who listened to his mother.

The family had reportedly moved into the neighborhood only about a week before the crash.

That evening, the siblings had accompanied their mother to collect medication for Vicky’s asthma. They were making their way home when the collision occurred.

A routine family errand became a tragedy that would change their lives forever.

A WITNESS RUSHED TO HELP THE INJURED GIRL

Neighbor Jerome Alexander told local news outlets that he heard an unusually loud crash and immediately went outside to see what had happened.

He described a chaotic and distressing scene.

Alexander said Vicky was partially trapped beneath a parked vehicle and initially appeared unconscious. He recalled that their mother began speaking to her, and the girl subsequently opened her eyes.

The witness also described seeing Hernan near the wrecked vehicle.

Emergency responders arrived, but Hernan could not be saved.

Alexander’s account offers a glimpse of the desperate moments that followed the collision, when family members and neighbors tried to understand what had happened and help those who were injured.

For the Martinez family, the immediate aftermath was only the beginning of a long and painful journey.

POLICE IDENTIFY THE SUSPECTED DRIVER

In October, the Los Angeles Police Department publicly identified Raygine Glentasia Evans as the suspected driver of the Nissan Sentra.

Investigators allege that the car continued moving after striking the siblings, before crashing into parked vehicles. Police have said the driver and a female passenger then left the scene.

The passenger was identified as Joannae Shavon Rosby.

According to detectives, surveillance footage showed the two women fleeing and later being picked up by another vehicle, described as a red Honda Accord. Investigators also said the women removed belongings from the damaged Nissan before leaving.

Detectives have described the vehicle’s movements after the collision as a particularly troubling part of the investigation. They allege that the driver swerved from side to side while Hernan was on the vehicle’s windshield, apparently attempting to dislodge him.

These details form part of the police investigation and the allegations against the suspected driver.

As of the latest reports available on October 25, Evans remained at large, and authorities were appealing to the public for information that could help locate her.

A SEARCH THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE CRASH

The investigation has drawn further attention because police say Evans is also wanted in connection with 10 robberies across Los Angeles.

Authorities have additionally reported that she had received nine citations involving reckless driving and running stop signs.

Those citations and the separate robbery investigation are part of the background described by police as they continue their search. They do not, by themselves, establish responsibility for the collision or prove the separate allegations.

The LAPD has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the fatal hit-and-run case.

Investigators are urging anyone with information about Evans’s whereabouts, the collision or the vehicles involved to contact the department.

A SISTER’S RECOVERY AND A FAMILY’S GRIEF

While police continue searching for the suspected driver, Vicky and her family must navigate the consequences of that September night.

Vicky’s serious injuries have required hospital treatment and surgery. Her recovery is an important concern for her loved ones, who are also grieving the loss of Hernan.

The siblings had been walking beside their mother, doing something ordinary that evening: returning home after collecting medication.

Hernan should have had more birthdays, more time to explore his interests and more opportunities to grow up alongside his sister.

Instead, his family is left holding on to memories of a teenager remembered for his creativity, kindness and talents.

POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION

The investigation remains a search for answers as well as accountability.

Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, saw the blue Nissan Sentra or red Honda Accord, or has information about the people involved to come forward.

For Hernan’s loved ones, no arrest can undo the loss of a 16-year-old boy whose life was cut short just days after his birthday. But they continue to wait for answers while hoping Vicky can recover from her injuries.

A family went out together to collect essential medication. Only moments later, their lives were changed forever.

Now, as the search continues, the community is being asked to help investigators establish what happened and bring the case forward.

Anyone with information should contact the Los Angeles Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through LA Regional Crime Stoppers.