On Monday night, two pedestrians were hit just blocks from each other. One was a hit-and-run and the driver is still unknown.
The Cortes family is searching for answers after 70-year-old Mario Gerardo Cortes was hit by a car while crossing North Campbell Ave. near East Mitchell Street just two and a half blocks from their home. He later died at the hospital.
"Leaving someone dying in the street is an inhumane thing to do and that doesn't mean that this person isn't inhumane or an evil person it just means they made a decision that is having devastating consequences on my family," said Paula Cortes, Mario Gerardo's wife. "He was left on the road and leaving me as a widow with two sons and a lot of unanswered questions and a great emptiness."
"It's possible in those few minutes that that person would have been the one person on the scene that could have been the pivotal moments that could have ultimately saved my father," said Christian Cortes, their son.
Mario Gerardo and his wife celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in August. They say they will remember Cortes as his social outgoing self who was always walking.
His family is urging the driver to turn themselves in so they can begin their healing process.
"Here I am with someone who has in my heart to forgive but I have no one to forgive because we don't know who to forgive," she said.
Police say they are still looking for the driver and a dark vehicle with front-end damage. Anyone with information is asked to call 88- CRIME and they can remain anonymous.
Already this year, there is double the number of pedestrian fatalities than last year at 22, according to Tucson police.
