Crime & Safety

Car Accident Victim Speaks Out

Tragedy struck the Yeon family on Wed. when their daughter was the victim of a hit-and-run.

Last Wed. night started off as any evening would for the Yeon family of La Crescenta. They had dinner together, followed by a walk around the neighborhood. Then, 13-year-old Angie realized she needed to pick up something at nearby Walgreens. Her mom walked with her towards the store, but as Angie was crossing Ramsdell Ave., everything changed.

“I looked up and down the street; at the top I saw headlights,” said Angie. “But I thought it was too far away for it to hit me, so I started walking across.”

Angie’s mom, Eunice, was walking a few steps behind her, and saw the oncoming car picking up speed. She called out to warn her daughter.

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“My mom said ‘Angie!’ and that’s when it hit me. It side-swiped me,” said Angie.

Angie’s injuries were serious and immediate.

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“Her foot was already dangling,” said Eunice. “It was misplaced.”

The driver didn’t stop, and instead continued speeding towards Foothill Blvd. Eunice barely got a look at the vehicle, and can only recall that it was dark-colored, possibly a small SUV.

Because this was only supposed to be a quick trip to the store, Eunice had no cell phone and no way to call for help. Luckily, another car traveling downhill stopped to help. The driver, a man, banged on the door to a nearby fire station for help, and an ambulance was called. He also found something that the speeding car had left behind when it hit Angie- the driver’s side mirror. It was turned over to police as evidence.

“I want to thank him,” said Eunice. “But I have no information about him.”

Angie was taken to the hospital. Her father Mike found pieces of her broken glasses scattered in the street where she was hit.

“That would’ve been her,” said Mike, holding up her broken glasses. “If she had gone one more step forward, it could’ve been much worse.”

Angie broke her ankle in two places, and is awaiting surgery. Her leg is bandaged up to her knee and she is getting around with the help of crutches. Her ankle has been too swollen to operate on, but her parents say doctors are hopeful that the surgery will happen this week.

For now, Angie is resting at home. She had to miss her school's on Friday night.

“She had the dress and everything ready,” said Mike.

Though it was a huge disappointment, Angie’s friends came over a few days after the dance to keep her company.

“Yesterday her friends came over and they talked about their dance,” said Eunice. “Angie wore her dress, so at least her friends got to see it,” said Eunice.

As an eighth grader, Angie had a bunch of year-end activities planned to celebrate her final year at and the start of summer.

“Everything was lined up. Semi-formal, graduation, a trip to Disneyland with the school… and she’s on the swim team, she’s waiting until the swimming season comes back,” said Mike. The family even had a summer vacation to Australia planned, so they could attend a wedding.

“We cancelled everything,” said Mike.

“This summer, we’re staying home,” said Eunice.

Angie is still hopeful that she will be able to attend graduation on June 16.

“I really want to go to Promotion,” said Angie. “But depending on the surgery date, I could go or not go.”

The driver of the vehicle has not been found, and though Mike was initially angry, the family is coming to terms with the hit-and-run.

“[The driver] could’ve been a teenager who doesn’t know what’s going on,” said Eunice. “I heard that this would be a felony and it could be heavy on him. So, I don’t want to find him. I’m sure this will be a big lesson for him… As a mom it’s tragic for me, but it could be a tragedy for another family, and I don’t want that.”

Police have no information about the age or sex of the driver.

Ramsdell Ave. is a long, downhill stretch with no stop signs for just over a half-mile, from Orange Ave. until Foothill Blvd. Though the speed limit is 30 mph, cars tend to speed down the hill. La Crescenta is full of similar hilly streets, many of them without streetlights, stop signs or sidewalks. The Yeons say that they routinely see kids skateboarding, running and walking to and from and Rosemont, and that pedestrian conditions are dangerous.  

The Yeons want to share their story with community leaders in hopes that they can make La Crescenta streets safer for pedestrians. They are planning to speak to the town council and city council.

The town council currently has a petition going for a lighted crosswalk at Glenwood Ave. and Foothill Blvd.

Earlier:


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