WPBN: Hit-and-run victim Nikki Rash passed away at the same Long Beach hospital where she frequently volunteers with her rescued therapy dog, according to her loved ones. Her Labrador Retriever, Gabby, was by her side as she passed away.
A 78-year-old Long Beach lady named Nikki passed away on Saturday, January 4, after suffering serious injuries in a hit-and-run accident on December 26. The culprit is still at large.
“The neck injury and brain injury she sustained, she was being kept alive on machines and so after 10 days we honored her health care directive,” Nikki’s son, Chris Rash stated. “We let her go peacefully.”
According to Chris, his mother was T-boned by a vehicle who ran a red light just a few blocks from her Bixby Knolls neighborhood home.
The Long Beach Police Department reported that on the day after Christmas, police arrived at the intersection of California Avenue and San Antonio Drive at approximately 4:45 p.m.
After the collision, investigators discovered that the male suspect got out of his vehicle for a short time but immediately got back in and drove off.
His vehicle is described as a tan-colored Toyota Avalon sedan, but authorities have not yet made a suspect description public. The vehicle’s front end was noticeably damaged, according to surveillance footage.
According to police, the victim, who was identified by family as Nikki, refused medical assistance at the scene but drove herself to a hospital a few hours after the collision.
The 78-year-old was put on life support at Long Beach Memorial, one of the hospitals where Nikki’s former co-volunteer claimed she used to visit patients with her two rescue Labs, Dutch and Gabby, after undergoing brain surgery.
Pregnant Women and Families Can Now Receive TCA Direct Payments – Here’s How?
“The nurses were very kind at the ICU,” Andrew Lesser, president of Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue (SCLRR) stated. “They gave special permission for Nikki’s service dog Gabby to visit with her.”
Lesser stated that SCLRR, an organization she has served for since 2013, will suffer greatly from Nikki’s passing.
“This shouldn’t have happened,” Lesser stated. “Somebody needs to pay for this. Whoever did this needs to pay.”
School Bus Driver in Florida Faces Child Abuse Charges for Allegedly Pulling Student’s Hair
The family of Nikki is pleading with witnesses to come forward and assist law enforcement in their investigation.
“We also ask that the person who did this step up and take ownership of what they did,” Chris stated. “They made a mistake and they need to step up.”
In the case that anyone witnessed the collision or has information regarding the suspect, they are requesting that they contact Long Beach police investigator Ashley Van Holland at the number 562-570-7355.
You can call the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit their website at lacrimestoppers.org to offer information in complete anonymity.
