Police are searching for a reckless driver allegedly tied to a string of Los Angeles robberies after a horrifying hit-and-run crash killed a 16-year-old boy and critically injured his younger sister.
The Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspect Thursday as Raygine Glentasia Evans. Investigators say Evans has received nine citations for reckless driving and failing to stop at stop signs and is wanted in connection with 10 robberies across Los Angeles.
According to police, Evans sped through a stop sign before striking 16-year-old Hernan Martinez and his 13-year-old sister, Vicky, as they crossed a South Los Angeles street with their mother on Sept. 22.
The fatal collision occurred at about 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of 10th Avenue and 60th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
The impact sent Hernan onto the windshield of the blue Nissan Sentra, which continued speeding down the road before crashing into several parked cars, KTLA reported.
Hernan was pronounced dead at the scene. His younger sister was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Surveillance video added to the horror, showing two women escaping from the wrecked sedan moments after the crash.
Police identified the passenger as Joannae Shavon Rosby. The two women were seen running down the street before being picked up by another vehicle.
Neighbor Jerome Alexander told ABC7 that he heard a powerful crash and rushed outside, where he encountered what he described as a nightmare scene.
“We heard a loud bang. Honestly, it was so loud it sounded like someone hit a building or a car,” Alexander said.
He found Vicky partially trapped beneath a parked vehicle. She was initially unconscious, but appeared to regain consciousness after her mother began pleading with her.
“The daughter was partially under our car. At first, she wasn’t conscious and then her mom started talking to her and her eyes popped open,” he recalled.
Alexander said he also saw Hernan lying on top of the suspect’s car before the teenager rolled off.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: US Accuses Contractor of Leaking Secrets to Girlfriend’s Substack
Alexander also described another disturbing moment: a man reportedly returned to the wrecked Nissan and removed what appeared to be a baby from the back seat.
“A guy came back, opened the back door, moved the airbags out the way, a lot of smoke coming out the car and he grabbed the baby out the backseat and left with the baby,” Alexander said.
When Alexander confronted the man, he said the person appeared unconcerned about the critically injured teenager.
“I said stop touching the car, they just killed somebody’s kid, and he said, ‘I don’t care about that,’” Alexander recalled.
The devastating Los Angeles crash has left the Martinez family struggling to cope with the loss.
Hernan’s older brother, Eliseo Martinez, said their mother was able to pull Vicky out of the path of the speeding vehicle but could not save Hernan.
“My mom, me and my sister are trying to pull it all together for one another,” he told KTLA.
Vicky has since undergone surgery and faces a grueling recovery.
Her brother remembered Hernan as a sweet, talented teenager who loved baking and sewing and had his entire future ahead of him.
Around 200 grieving relatives, friends and neighbors gathered for a rosary to honor the slain teen, while community volunteers painted a crosswalk at the deadly intersection and demanded stronger pedestrian protections.
The family has also launched a GoFundMe to help cover expenses following the devastating loss, raising more than $18,000 toward a $22,000 goal.
“He was only 16 years old and had so much life ahead of him,” Eliseo wrote. “Losing him so unexpectedly has left a pain in our family that is difficult to put into words.”
As the family mourns, police are still searching for Evans.
The LAPD announced Thursday that a reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to her arrest.
Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD South Traffic Division Officer Hurd at 213-321-9681 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
