Family of hit and run victim Teodoro Torres speaks out
“We want answers that’s all, we want answers and peace for our family,” said Christina Torres, the niece of 51-year-old Teodoro Torres, the hit and run victim who was struck by two vehicles while crossing Ramon Road in Cathedral City last Wednesday.
Torres died in the hospital Friday with his family by his side.
“We did have to make the difficult decision to end his life because there wasn’t going to be any hope the doctors said,” Christina Torres said.
We met Teodoro’s nieces at the site of the crash, where they made a memorial for their uncle. As we interviewed them, a witness of the accident agreed to come forward if we kept his identity private. He said he not only saw what happened but tried to help Torres as he lay helplessly on the ground after the first car hit him.
“Then the ambulance came and if I wouldn’t have gotten out of the way they would have hit me too. I tried to wave them down to stop, but they didn’t,” the witness said.
California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and says the driver of the Cathedral City Fire Department ambulance told them he did see someone waving on the street, but kept driving.
“What are the policies and procedures on that? What are you supposed to do?” Christina Torres said.
CHP says the fire department doesn’t have a procedure in place for this kind of incident, and that it was a judgment call on the driver’s part. Torres’s family says they believe the paramedics hold some accountability.
“It’s a three lane road so it could have been avoided,” said Amberlea Martinez, Torres’s niece.
“Could they have gone around him? It’s very sad that he got hit twice,” Christina said.
As for the first car that struck Torres, investigators are still looking for what they say is a black Lincoln Navigator with large chrome rims.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
“We just want an answer, or an apology, anything at this point will help. Anything,” Amberlea said.
If anyone has any information regarding the hit and runs please contact Crime Stoppers at 760-341-STOP.
