A Los Angeles woman killed on Christmas Eve by a hit-and-run driver whereas dropping off toys at a shelter was described by her niece as a selfless individual.
Trina Newman-Townsend was a neighborhood activist who “lived a life of humanitarian aid and social justice,” Maryann Payne-Benjamin instructed The Times. The GoFundMe page that Payne-Benjamin organized to boost cash for her aunt’s funeral mentioned Newman-Townsend was dedicated to “family, friends, foster children, or basically anyone that was in need.”
The 62-year-old was crossing South Broadway close to 88th Street on Saturday afternoon, heading towards her parked automobile, when she was struck by a blue midsize sedan. The entrance passenger space of the automobile sustained “significant damage” within the collision, police mentioned, and the driving force fled. Newman-Townsend was pronounced lifeless on the scene by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Trina Newman-Townsend was killed whereas dropping off toys at a shelter, in response to police.
(Courtesy of Maryann Payne-Benjamin)
Payne-Benjamin mentioned family and friends could be attending a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Thursday close to the crash web site.
There’s a $50,000 reward for anybody with information resulting in the driving force’s identification, arrest and conviction, “or resolution by civil compromise” on this case. The reward is offered via Los Angeles’ Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund established by the City Council in 2015.
Deaths in pedestrian-involved crashes are up in Los Angeles, with 144 killed this 12 months, in response to Los Angeles Police Department information via Dec. 3. A complete of 76 hit-and-run deaths have been reported. Despite the “Vision Zero” plan, which goals to get rid of pedestrian deaths by 2025, they rose nearly 20% this 12 months in contrast with 2021.
Newman-Townsend was a mom, grandmother, evangelist and neighborhood activist, her niece mentioned. “We pray that the driver of the hit and run vehicle is found and justice is served,” she wrote on GoFundMe.
Anyone with information can anonymously name L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
City News Service contributed to this report.