A Santa Ana man has died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Fountain Valley, police said on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
The victim in the Saturday collision, who died at a hospital on Monday, was 34-year-old Long Ta, the Fountain Valley Police Department said.
Witnesses said Ta was crossing Edinger Avenue in a crosswalk with a green walk signal around 6:20 a.m. Saturday when he was struck by a car headed east on Edinger toward Ward Street, police said.
The suspect car had run a red light when it struck Ta and did not stop, police said.
The suspect’s car was identified from surveillance footage as a Chrysler or Dodge minivan with possible front-end damage, police said.
Ta was out for a jog near the park when he was struck, said Sarah Pak, his sister-in-law.
The software engineer would spend a lot of time with family, including his nephews, she said.
“He is a very giving and loyal brother,” Pak said. “He was just a good kid. Very gentle, good with his nephews.”
Doctors told the family the trauma to Ta’s head wasn’t that bad and he possibly could have survived if he got immediate medical care, according to Pak.
“If the driver had stopped and called 911, he could’ve had a chance,” she said. “How do you sleep at night? It doesn’t make sense.”
Pak urged anyone with information to contact police.
Investigators ask anyone with information that will lead to the identification of the suspect car and driver to contact the Police Department at 714-593-4481.