Oakland Police Seek Suspect In January Hit-And-Run That Killed Mother Of 7
OAKLAND (CBS SF/KPIX) -- Police in Oakland are asking for the public's help locating a suspect in a hit-and-run collision in January that took the life of a mother of seven, authorities announced Thursday.
It was a Friday afternoon, on January 17, when Miesha Singleton, the mother of seven children, was crossing the street. She was inside the crosswalk when Henry Melendez passed another vehicle that was stopped, yielding to allow Miesha to pass, according to police.
"The guy didn't want to wait. He went around the traffic at a high rate of speed and he struck her as she was crossing the street," says her cousin, Bobby Dell.
Singleton was pronounced dead at the scene, while two of her children were waiting in the nearby car.
The manhunt for Henry Melendez continues. Now Oakland police want the public's help.
"We have been working with the US Marshalls Office and together, we are reaching out to you now to help us actively search for Henry Melendez who is wanted for this fatal hit n run," says Police Chief Susan Manheimer.
Since the fatal accident, last January, Oakland has installed plastic barriers and restriped the street to one lane in each direction. High-speed traffic has already destroyed many of the cones. Tire marks stretch across the newly painted pedestrian crossing. To make matters even worse, all of this is in front of a school.
The pain runs deep, "When you know somebody, you've been to their house, you know their kids, their family, ah loved one at that! It hurts…you still live in shock" says Dell.
One neighbor, who claims to have known Melendez from school but didn't want to go on camera told KPIX 5 that suspect Melendez may be in Los Angeles attempting to return to Guatemala. Oakland Police have posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
"If you see something, say something and help us bring this individual to justice," said Chief Manheimer.
Melendez is described as a Hispanic man, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 137 pounds with dark hair and brown eyes. Anyone with more information is asked to call Oakland police at (510) 777-8570.