Driver sought in fatal hit-and-run in Culver City

CULVER CITY, Calif. - A Culver City woman is begging for the public’s help in finding the person responsible for killing her uncle in a hit-and-run.

The crash happened on Sunday, Nov. 3 at about 1:45 a.m. on Washington Place near Frances Avenue in Culver – West.

Vanessa Garcia says her uncle, 62-year-old Reynaldo Martinez, moved his car to avoid a ticket and was heading back inside to go to sleep after celebrating another niece’s Quinceañera. He crossed Washington Place and was hit by a black car that kept going.

Surveillance video shows the car that Culver City detectives believe is a newer model Toyota Corolla with a shattered front windshield and damage to the hood and dashboard.

“The person we love the most is gone and we don’t know who is accountable for this,” says Garcia. “He was a kind-hearted, energetic, positive-minded person who spread so much happiness.” Martinez had two sons. He sold vitamins and managed a restaurant in Inglewood. His family isn’t sure how to get through life without him, especially with Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner.

“It’s a time to be with each other,” says Garcia. “You always reflect back on the holidays and one of our family members is gone and it’s just not going to be the same.”

Martinez’s family is urging the community to sign an online petition on change.org to install a signalized crosswalk where he was killed. The petition is called “Approve Signalized Crossing on Washington Place and Wasatch Avenue.” Since the current wait time at nearby designated crosswalks is about eight minutes, a lot of people jaywalk without realizing how fast the cars drive down the road.

Culver City Police urges anyone with information about the case to call Accident Investigator Houck, 310-253-6254 or Sergeant Loken, 310-253-6260.