The Orange County Register
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A local band teacher died Friday morning, a week after he was struck in a major street while heading out for an early-morning meal. His family and police are offering $20,000 to the person who can identify the woman who fled the scene.
Chris Chavez, 26, of Santa Ana was crossing South Bristol Street around 2:15 a.m. in a crosswalk, with the right of way, on his way to eat at a Denny’s restaurant.
“He goes there all the time,” his sister, Rachel Chavez, 21, said after the crash. “He’s a night owl, so it’s not that unusual for him to be out at that time going to get something to eat.”
A Latino or Filipino woman, between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-4, was driving a black, four-door BMW – possibly a 500 series – with paper plates before she ran a red light at Central Avenue and hit Chavez.
She initially stopped, got out of the car and went to Chavez, but then left.
She has not been found, although police believe the car sustained major front-end and windshield damage.
On Friday, Santa Ana city and police officials offered a $10,000 reward to the person who helped police find the driver, and the family has pledged an additional $10,000.
$20K REWARD: to find hit & run driver after HS band teacher Chris Chavez declared brain dead. #abc7eyewitness @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/cB8TssBKpH
— Eileen Frere (@abc7eileen) April 29, 2016
“This case is significant enough that we wanted to offer a reward,” Santa Ana police Chief Carlos Rojas said at a press conference, with many of Chavez’s family and friends standing in support behind him. “My plea is to the driver to turn herself in.”
Chavez, who graduated from Saddleback High School in 2008, was a volunteer drum line instructor at the school while he studied to be a Emergency Medical Technician at Orange Coast College.
Chavez had been on life support since the crash because of serious brain swelling and a series of strokes.
“The strokes took over his brain,” said Ralph Chavez, Chris’ father. “Unfortunately this morning they ran one more test. The tested his brain to see if it had function. Unfortunately, he did not pass the test.”
Celebration of life for @saddlebackhigh teacher + hit+run victim Chris Chavez at 330 today. Vigil at 7p. @foxla pic.twitter.com/SKvAvsKhKU
— Gigi Graciette (@GigiGraciette) April 29, 2016
Chavez was pronounced brain dead around 10 a.m.
“Chris loved helping anybody and everybody,” Ralph Chavez said. “If he could continue to help anybody, he would want that. That’s why he’ll be a donor.”
Anyone with information was asked to call Santa Ana police Cpl. Matt Wharton at 714-245-8209. Anonymous tips can be provided to the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
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