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Background: News footage of the traffic after the fatal crash that killed Perry Hernandez on Feb. 6 (KTLA). Inset: Perry Hernandez (Facebook).
A tragic incident unfolded in California when a man, eager to enjoy a ride on his motorcycle, lost his life in a hit-and-run accident.
Perry Hernandez, aged 58, was declared deceased at the crash site, which involved his motorcycle, a BMW, and a box truck during the early hours of February 6. The California Highway Patrol reported the collision occurred around 6 a.m., with Hernandez discovered lying on the roadway. According to KTLA, a local CW affiliate, while the BMW and motorcycle remained at the scene, the box truck fled before authorities arrived.
In their quest for justice, Hernandez’s family is now reaching out to the community for assistance in identifying the box truck driver.
Speaking to KTLA, Hernandez’s wife and children expressed their grief and the pressing need for answers following his untimely death. Marissa Hernandez, his daughter, shared that her father had been eagerly anticipating the chance to ride his motorcycle again after some time. On the morning of the accident, he left home early to commute to work on his beloved bike.
Marissa recounted to KTLA how her grandmother, Perry’s mother, noticed something was amiss when she did not receive her usual morning call from him on February 6. After their calls went unanswered, the family turned to the news and saw the heavy traffic on the 110 freeway in Los Angeles. Their hearts sank when they identified the motorcycle involved in the incident.
Their worst fears were confirmed by the police, who learned of Perry Hernandez’s identity through the medical examiner.
Perry Hernandez’s son, Perry Hernandez Jr., said the box truck driver’s apparent decision to flee the scene while his father lay in the road made “no sense.” He told KTLA, “[I] just think about him laying there and the person just driving away and living their day-to-day life.”
Marissa Hernandez was equally troubled by the truck driver’s alleged choice to leave the scene, telling KTLA, “It wasn’t okay for them to do what they did and treat him as if he was nothing. He had us to come home to.”
Perry Hernandez Jr. said he had just told his father that he was going to be a grandfather. He told KTLA, “My wife’s pregnant, and knowing my child won’t have their grandpa or my dad there, it hurts.”
Marissa Hernandez teared up as she told KTLA, “When I get married, I won’t have my dad to walk me down the aisle.”
Vahagn Koshkaryan, an attorney representing the Hernandez family, urged the driver and the company that may own the box truck and employ the driver to “be forthcoming … otherwise they could possibly be facing some criminal charges.”
KTLA reported that the California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, but has not arrested anyone yet. The Hernandez family and friends are seeking information and asking the public for help.