Family seeks justice for Lemoore father of 3 killed in Kern County hit and run

LEMOORE, Calif. (KFSN) -- In the aboriginal hours of June 23, 37-year-old Pedro Rodriguez Jr. was driving connected State Route 43, northbound of Garces Highway successful Kern County.

The California Highway Patrol says the operator of a Toyota Tacoma ran a halt motion and into the way of Rodriquez's Toyota Camry.

Rodriguez died astatine the country but officers accidental the different operator was capable to tally away.

"Just knowing that this antheral was capable to get up and locomotion away, portion my relative laid there... we don't cognize if helium was lifeless. We don't cognize if helium was struggling. We don't know," Pedro's relative Amy Gomez says.

Close relatives picture Rodriguez Jr. arsenic a household antheral who leaves down 3 children, the youngest being 12 years old.

"He was a large dad. He was a bully provider..." Gomez says. "He was the 1 that would lecture america if we were doing thing wrong. He was the 1 that was praising america if we did thing right."

Nearly a period aft Rodriguez's death, the household says it's the chartless that keeps them searching for answers.

"If it was an honorable mistake, it was an honorable mistake," Gomez says. "Whether you were drinking, whether it was an accident, whether it was, you know, you conscionable being negligent, we don't know, but we merit those answers."

The household says they are frustrated with the deficiency of accusation they person received pursuing the crash.

"The past telephone we got was that the DNA was connected the truck, but different than that, [investigators] haven't truly updated us; they haven't truly fixed america immoderate accusation regards to the registered owner," Gomez says

The household present left, questioning what beingness looks similar successful this play of loss.

"Without immoderate answers, it's going to beryllium precise hard," Gomez says.

The household volition laic Pedro Rodriguez Jr. to remainder connected Friday.

As the probe continues, it has not been determined whether drugs oregon intoxicant were factors successful this crash.

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