Authorities in Los Angeles have offered a $50,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of a hit-and-run driver who killed a beloved foster mother as she was delivering presents to a shelter on Christmas eve.
Besides being a foster mother to 10 children, 62-year-old Trina Newman-Townsend was also a beloved member of the community as well as a minister and activist, CBS News reported.
The fatal incident occurred close to South Broadway and 88th Street on Saturday afternoon. Newman-Townsend was returning to her car after she gifted presents to the needy when the ye-to-be-identified driver struck and killed her. The vehicle that struck her was said to be a mid-sized sedan with a blue paint job.
The deceased woman’s brother, Dewayne Newman, said three of his sister’s foster children were with her when the fatal incident occurred. “She had three children in the car with her that witnessed this and I know they need some closure,” he said. “I know they need some help.”
On Monday, investigators went back to the collision scene to look for new evidence. This included surveillance footage from businesses around the area, CBS News reported. Dewayne said he hopes the footage will help identify the hit-and-run suspect.
“If you have any kind of compassion in your heart, if you have any kind of mercy, any sympathy, any humanity, please help us and just turn yourself in,” he said.
