$5K Reward Offered in Finding Suspect in Hit-and-Run of Grandma in La Mirada

Cover Image

Los Angeles Sheriff’s investigators are talking about the tragic — unsolved — hit-and-run death of a La Mirada grandmother.  

It happened in front of her grand-kids, near Escalona Elementary School.

Authorities today continued their search for the hit- and-run motorist responsible for fatally injuring a woman who was walking her grandchildren home from school in La Mirada last month.

Maria Chavarria, 68, died at a hospital after being struck from behind about 1:15 p.m. Feb. 20 in the 14800 block of Escalona Road.

Afternoon Feb. 20/ La Mirada— driver of newer model gray Toyota Camry slammed into a grandmother, walking her grandkids home from school. Driver was talking on phone— didn’t stop- kids watched their grandmother die. @NorwalkLASD investigators say Camry likely has front damage. pic.twitter.com/zZqhoJMjAj

— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) March 26, 2019

 Chavarria's grandchildren, a boy and girl who attend nearby Escalona Elementary School, suffered minor injuries. The La Mirada woman's husband said the family lives nearby.

A late-morning news conference was planned by authorities to publicize a $5,000 reward offered for help in solving the case and to release security video of the suspect vehicle in the neighborhood where the fatality occurred.

"The driver of the 2015-2017 dark gray Toyota Camry never stopped to help this grandmother or her grandchildren," sheriff's Deputy Trina Schrader said. "The victim's family is devastated and asking for your help."

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

-CNS