Obituaries
Friends, Community Raise $6K for Hit and Run Victim
According to a friend of Carlos Salas, 20, who was killed in an alleged hit and run on Friday, they have been holding vigil since the accident. They have been asking for donations to help the family.
have helped raise $6,000 to help the family pay for his funeral, says a friend.
An alleged hit and run driver in a 1998 black Nissan Maxima is said to have possibly hit and dragged Salas around 3:48 a.m., according to police.
Gail Krause, spokesperson for Orange County Sheriff's Department, said police are still searching for the driver of the car found about one quarter of a mile from the scene.
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"The car is a black 1998 Nissan Maxima that is registered to a Dana Point resident," she said. "However, we don't know if the owner is the person who was driving the car at the time. Investigators did find physical evidence on the car that coincides with what they found at the scene. It does appear to be a hit and run accident and the man was dragged before he was left."
Salas later died of injuries at a local hospital, according to authorities. There was a skateboard found near the scene.
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Growing Group
Since his death, a group of his friends have camped out on the lawn near the site. They have posted photos of Salas, brought flowers, lit candles, and bonded over the loss of their friend.
Allison Leader, 19, a college student and Dana Hills High grad, said as of Sunday, they have collected $6,000 from those stopping by the site and giving money to help the family.
"We want Carlos to have the funeral he deserves," said Leader, who has not had the chance to join the vigil as she is away at college in Northern California. "The community has been incredible in helping out and we are hoping the person who hit him, comes forward. The group that has been out there is amazing and they don't plan on leaving the area anytime soon. They have done amazing things to help Carlos' family and to bring awareness to this terrible tragedy."
She said she knows Salas through mutual friends and will remember him as: "Hilarious and someone who made me laugh. He was genuine and a good person, he didn't deserve to die this way, nobody does."
Anyone with information on the crash, or the driver, is asked to contact investigators at 949-425-1860.
