Tri-Cities father of 2 killed walking to work near Milton-Freewater. Driver is on the run
A hit-and-run driver killed a Kennewick father while he was walking along Highway 11 south of Walla Walla early Sunday.
Oregon State Police were called to the highway near Milton-Freewater about 3:30 a.m. after a report of a pedestrian being hit.
Investigators found Carlos Antonio Perez, 27, of Kennewick, but the driver had fled the scene.
Perez reportedly had been walking to work in Milton-Freewater when he was struck, according to the My Town Walla Walla Washington Facebook page.
State police were still searching Monday for the driver.
According to initial dispatch reports, police are looking for dark color SUV or pickup with center front-end damage.
“No one was prepared for this and I really am at (a) loss for words,” Carlos’ father Ramiro Perez said in a message on his GoFundMe campaign. “I love him very much and I still can’t believe this happened.”
The family had received more than $5,700 in donations by Monday. Ramiro Perez asked people to give what they could to cover funeral expenses.
Antonio Perez had two children.
Anyone interested in donating can go to bit.ly/PerezFundraiser.
This story was originally published August 7, 2023 at 5:32 PM.