LORAIN, Ohio — Family says a 67-year-old woman was walking to Christmas dinner Wednesday when a driver hit her and took off.
Investigators say the crash happened Christmas Day just before 6 p.m. in the 1100 block of Tower Boulevard near Tysons Road, between Kingsway Drive and Washington Avenue.
“It’s very upsetting," said Irma Matos.
She told News 5 she was at her sister Etna Acosta's apartment earlier that day to check in and wish her a happy holiday.
"[I told her], 'If I have time, I’ll bring you some food.' And she said, ‘No, no it’s ok because our brother is cooking.’ And I left it at that and said, ‘Ok I’ll see you tomorrow,’” Matos recalled. “The next thing I hear— she got hit by a truck.”
Matos said her sister lives directly across Tower Blvd. from their brother's apartment, and she routinely walks back and forth.
Police believe Acosta was walking North across the street when she was struck by a vehicle heading East. The driver left the scene.
“The thing that bothered me the most is she got left there,” said Acosta's grandson, Moises Carreras.
He had plans to celebrate the holiday with his grandmother on Thursday but said it was a somber event at her bedside.
“I still had to go see her today for Christmas and that’s how I see her,” he said.
EMS initially transported the woman to Mercy Hospital for treatment. Her family said she was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center for an emergency surgery to amputate her leg.
"I'm just grateful my grandmother is alive and she's talking and she still knows who everybody is," Carreras said.
While the family is relieved Acosta is recovering, they said they're frustrated the driver responsible has not taken accountability.
“Have it in your heart to give up, call, turn yourself in," said Matos. "The guilt could get to you.”
Carreras added, “It would mean more to me and my family if you just turn yourself in and let God handle the rest from there.”
Investigators are searching for the driver and suspect vehicle. They believe debris from the crash could belong to a silver or gray Ford pickup truck.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Lorain Police Department Traffic Bureau at 44-204-2115 or email officer Brian Andreas.
