An Escondido man walking home from work was struck and killed by a box truck that slowed but didn’t stop, officials said.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision that happened just after 10 p.m. Monday on Bear Valley Parkway near Boyle Avenue.
A white, medium-sized "U-Haul style" box truck was traveling westbound on Bear Valley Parkway it struck 23-year-old Benjamin Ramirez, officials said.
Ramirez was taken to Palomar Hospital but later died.
The accident happened about a mile away from where Ramirez lived with his parents.
His father said that Benjamin was walking home from his shift at a nearby Albertsons just before the crash.
Benjamin's dad said his son was working a part-time job to help the family out.
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He doesn't want any sort of revenge or ill will against the hit-and-run driver. "Whats done is done," he said adding that his son is gone.
Investigators are looking for a truck with damage on the front end that may make a loud rattling sound when it’s driven.
“Obviously there's somebody out there who knows something about this crash who knows that they hit something in the roadway last night," Jim Bettencourt, spokesperson for Oceanside CHP.
Anyone with information can call the Oceanside CHP office during regular business hours at (760) 757-1675.
Meanwhile, friends and family are now collecting donations to help with funeral expenses for Ramirez. Donations can be made through this online memorial fund dedicated to the victim of the deadly hit and run. Donations can also be made in person at the Albertson’s grocery store where Ramirez worked, which is located at 1509 East Valley Parkway.
