A man and his 3-year-old daughter died inside a Long Beach apartment after a hit-and-run driver’s pickup truck crashed through the wall of the building Tuesday night, according to investigators.
Officers responded to a hit-and-run call shortly before 10:30 p.m. in the 6600 block of Rose Avenue, Long Beach Police Department Lt. Jose Flores confirmed.
Video from the scene showed the front end of a dark-colored 2014 Dodge Ram pickup inside an apartment after crashing through the wall of the building.
Officers and witnesses rendered aid to the victims hurt inside the building until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived.
A 42-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. The L.A. County coroner’s office has identified him as Jose Palacios Gonzalez.
The man’s 3-year-old daughter was taken to a local hospital, where she died from her injuries, according to a police news release.
“That little girl, she just started living, and to lose her life like that,” witness Veronica Quezada said through tears. “And to the person that did that, not stay at the scene and just run away — that breaks my heart.”
Authorities have not released the name of the child yet, but a GoFundMe for the family said her name was Samantha.
Surveillance videos showed a truck whipping around the corner and speeding down Rose Avenue before slamming into the building.
“The car crashed in, he tried backing out, tried of course to leave the scene,” said neighbor Eduardo Caballero, who witnessed the incident.
Police are searching for the driver, who fled the scene on foot.
He was described as a man between 20 and 25 years of age.
Anyone with further information is asked to call the Police Department at 562-570-7355. Anonymous tips can be submitted through L.A. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.