Family of Palm Springs hit-and-run victim calls for justice after major injury crash

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - The family of 80-year-old Henrietta Ruiz is speaking out after she was hit by a car while walking along Vista Chino and Hermosa Drive last week.

The crash was reported July 15 around 6:30 p.m., when Palm Springs Police say Ruiz was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene shortly after.

The suspect vehicle was believed to be a white Ford F-150, possibly a model year around 2000, driven by a Hispanic man in his 60s with a scruffy white beard, police said.

"She was actually in a crosswalk and a white truck came in and hit her and briefly stopped and then took off. Good Samaritans came out and were able to call 911 immediately, and got her to the hospital as fast as they could," her daughter Raquelle Martinez said.

Martinez claims her mother has vivid memories of the accident, and her first words were 'white truck,' when she woke up.

Now, her family says she's fighting for her life at Desert Regional Medical Center, and has since undergone multiple surgeries while remaining in critical condition.

"Her scalp was de-gloved. She had an open arm fracture, a hip fracture, multiple facial fractures. She has injuries like a vascular injury with her arm. She's already had abdominal surgery for bleeding," Martinez said.

The family says they're shocked by the accident, especially since Ruiz spoke with News Channel 3 just months ago about the dangers of walking along Vista Chino.

"The speed that everybody drives down Vista Chino is pretty, pretty fast, so I don't think they're going the speed limit," Ruiz told News Channel 3's Luis Avila back in January.

Her family says she was an avid walker, even while they warned her to be careful along the road.

Now, they're holding out hope that justice will be served in time for Henrietta.

"We have no hate or anger towards the person who did it. I know it's an older gentleman, but it's just a tragedy. Just sad that just to leave someone on the road, so basically, just come in, fess up and apologize," Martinez said.

If you'd like to assist the family and Ruiz's medical journey, visit: Help Our Mother Recover After Hit-and-Run.