Police searching for Chevy or Ford white cargo van after a 79-year-old died in hit-and-run

Authorities are urgently looking for information regarding the driver of a white cargo van who fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash in Long Beach.

On January 7, near South Street and Paramount Boulevard around 7:50 p.m. the pedestrian tried to cross westbound on South Street at Paramount, the crosswalk light was green.

The man proceeded to cross, and that is when a white cargo van that was traveling westbound on South Street turned northbound on to Paramount.

The cargo van struck the pedestrian and ended up dragging the victim along under the van for about 900 feet on Paramount. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene without contacting anyone for help.

Moments later, a second vehicle, whose driver did not see the pedestrian, struck the pedestrian even though he tried to swerve. The driver of the 2004 GMC Yukon remained on the scene and contacted the police and fully cooperated with authorities after.

Later on, the pedestrian got identified as Long Beach resident, 79-year-old Elias Sanchez.

The vehicle is said to be either a white Chevy or Ford make, and a 70s to 80s model with a ladder on the rear door. The utility van also has green writing on the back, while the ladder resembles those seen on the back of RV trailers.

Police urge anyone with information regarding the incident to call Detective Sirilo Garcia at (562) 570-7355.

When the driver of the utility van is found, the person may face similar consequences to a 23-year-old woman who got arrested in October regarding a hit and run crash that killed a man in Hialeah.

Maydelis Pulido, from Hialeah, was southbound on East Fourth Avenue in a stolen red 2007 Toyota Corolla when she struck 79-year-old Orlando Quiala while approaching 17th Street.

Pulido did not stop to offer help and fled the scene, leaving Orlando lying in the road. Orlando got airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, but doctors were, unfortunately, unable to save him.

During a news release, Hialeah police said:

"After working diligently day and night, following every lead possible, detectives were able to catch up with Pulido, taking her into custody. Once again we commend the tenacity and devotion our detectives have to our community."

Pulido got taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center after being charged with one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving a death.

In a similar case, 21-year-old Colton Treu, from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin left the scene of a hit and ran after he struck four girl scout girls and one adult woman on an uphill 95 miles east of Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 3.

Colton later turned himself in and face charges of four counts of murder through negligent vehicle usage.

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