Pasco father of 4 was walking home when he was hit and killed by a SUV

Martin Perez Garcia was walking home from a party when he was hit by a SUV early Sunday.

He had spent the evening celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday at her family’s home and was headed back to his Pasco apartment, where his sister was waiting with his kids.

That’s when a car hit and killed the father of four before driving off.

Washington State Patrol investigators said Tuesday they are searching for the driver of a late ‘90s or early 2000s model Chevy Blazer that struck him between 1:10 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. daylight savings time.

The 27-year-old was found dead several hours later in the median of Highway 395 near Argent Road.

Martin’s sister, Rebecca Pimienta, made a tearful plea Tuesday to the person driving the SUV.

“I just want them to turn themselves in,” she told the Herald. “I just want my mom to have closure. I want my nephews to know that this person isn’t just living their life. ... We just want him to feel remorseful for what he’s making my family go through right now.”

A passing driver found Garcia about 11 a.m. between Argent Road, the northbound ramp of the highway, and the westbound ramp from Interstate 182 just west of Columbia Basin College.

Investigators are not sure about the color of the Blazer but the driver’s side fog lamp was left behind.

Garcia man was born in Mexico, but spent most of his life in Pasco, getting his GED from Columbia Basin College.

He worked assembling manufactured homes, but Garcia’s real passions were his family, his music and making others smile.

He had three sons, ages 3, 5 and 9, from a previous relationship and a 7-month-old daughter with his girlfriend.

Garcia spent as much of his free time as he could with them, Pimienta said. He wanted to make sure they got as many experiences as he could provide them.

He also spent his off time writing rap music.

“He always dreamed big,” she said. “He wanted to record an album. He wanted to go into a studio and release his own music. He wanted to leave something for his kids so they could remember him.”

Anyone with information on the collision is asked to call the state patrol’s Kennewick office at 509-734-7034.

Garcia’s family set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for his funeral.

This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 9:22 AM.