MARCH 30, 2015
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) –
Medical examiners released the identities of a woman and a
girl who were killed when a hit-and-run driver slammed into a bus stop shelter
in east Las Vegas.
The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the victims as
Alyssa Aisa, 6, and Maria Garcia, 58. Both victims were from Las Vegas. The
cause of their deaths remained pending on Tuesday.
Aisa and Garcia died as a result of the crash that happened
just after 2:30 p.m. Monday on East Sahara Avenue at Maryland Parkway.
According to Las Vegas Metro police, a 2005 Volvo, driven by
20-year-old Leonardo Ruesga, was traveling east on Sahara when he drove up onto
the curb where about seven people were standing near the bus shelter.
An 18-month-old girl in a stroller was the first person to
be hit. She was transported to Sunrise Hospital and was later released.
Garcia was standing with her granddaughter, Aisa, on the
east side of the shelter when they were both struck by the car. The impact
forced both to the ground. They were transported to University Medical Center,
but succumbed to their injuries.
Police said Ruesga and his 15-year-old female passenger fled
the scene but were later found at a nearby apartment complex.
Ruesga admitted to driving the vehicle and ingesting illegal
substances before he was arrested for two counts of driving under the
influence, and one count of duty to stop at the scene of an accident involving
death and personal injury.
These were the 28th and 29th traffic related fatalities in
LVMPD's jurisdiction in 2015.
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A candlelight vigil is slated for Thursday at the spot where
6-year-old Alyssa Aisa and her grandmother, 58-year-old Maria Garcia, were struck
by a hit-and-run driver Monday.
Alyssa and Garcia were killed in the crash, which occurred
just after 2:30 p.m. A third victim, an 18-month-old girl, has been released
from a hospital.
The vigil will begin at 7:45 p.m. at the bus stop where the
crash occurred, which is located on East Sahara Avenue at Maryland Parkway in
Las Vegas.
The public is encouraged to attend and is asked to bring a red
rose for Garcia and a pink rose for Alyssa. The family of the victims will
provide a written statement to be read prior to the vigil.
A private memorial service for the victims will take place
on Saturday.
Those wishing to make donations to help offset funeral costs
may do so at any Bank of the West location. The accounts are as follows:
Alyssa Asia Memorial Fund – 039165068
Maria E. Garcia Memorial Fund – 039165050
You may also mail a donation to the following address:
Bank of the West
9021 W. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
Shortly after the crash, police took 20-year-old Leonardo
Ruesga into custody at an apartment complex located about a mile from the bus
stop. He faces charges of driving under the influence and failing to stop at
the scene of an accident involving death and personal injury.
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MEMORIALS ARE GROWING AT THE BUS STOP WHERE A CHILD AND HER
GRANDMOTHER WERE KILLED BY A HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER ON MONDAY.
Medical examiners released the identities of a woman and a
girl who were killed when a hit-and-run driver slammed into a bus stop shelter
in east Las Vegas.
The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the victims as
Alyssa Aisa, 6, and Maria Garcia, 58. Both victims were from Las Vegas. The
cause of their deaths remained pending on Tuesday.
Nearby, spray paint marks where 6-year-old Alyssa Aisa and
58-year-old Maria Garcia, along with another child, were hit.
"[It didn't sound like] a bomb, but we heard a really
loud smack," witness Alan Kossey said.
The crash occurred just after 2:30 p.m. on East Sahara
Avenue at Maryland Parkway. Kossey and his wife had gotten off a bus at the
stop minutes before the crash occurred.
"It is alarming. You need to be 25 or 30 feet away from
your bus stop to potentially save your own life," Kossey said.
Las Vegas Metro police said 20-year-old Leonardo Ruesga was
behind the wheel of a 2005 Volvo that was driven onto the curb and struck three
victims. Police said Ruesga fled the crash scene.
Witnesses followed Ruesga and his 15-year-old passenger to
an apartment complex located about a mile away. A woman who lives at the
complex, who wished not to be identified, said she walked out of her home to
police with guns drawn.
"All of the sudden, there's motorcycles rolling up.
It's just crazy. We have a helicopter flying above. They came in with the dog
and checked everybody's fence," she said.
The resident said she hears a lot of commotion from the
apartment where Ruesga and his passenger were located.
"I just hear a lot of yelling - a lot of yelling and
cussing from that house. The whole neighborhood can hear it," she said.
The apartment complex manager told FOX5 Ruesga is not a
resident.
The third victim, an 18-month-old girl who was in a stroller
and was the first person impacted, has been released from the hospital and is
doing OK, according to her mother.
Ruesga remains at Clark County Detention Center. He is
charged with driving under the influence resulting in death and leaving the
scene of an accident.
Source: http://www.fox5vegas.com