Efforts continue to find driver who fatally struck grandmother in La Mirada

LA MIRADA, Calif. (FOX11) - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office continues to search for the hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a woman nearly five months ago.

The accident happened shortly after 1 p.m on February 20th in the 14800 block of Escalona Road. Maria Chavarria, 68, was walking her grandchildren home from school when the vehicle struck her from behind.

On Wednesday, authorities circulated a security image of the unidentified suspect's car. A $5,000 reward is being offered by the city of La Mirada for help in solving the case.

Chavarria's grandchildren, a boy and girl who attend Escalona Elementary School, were also injured but survived. Chavarria was taken to the hospital where she later died.

Chavarria had three children and 15 grandchildren. The family says they live near the crash site.

Sheriff's Capt. James Tatreau said at a news conference shortly after the crime that witnesses saw the driver on a cellphone as he left the scene.

"This hit-and-run left two children injured and on the street alone with their grandmother who was dying while waiting for us to respond to the call,'' Tatreau said.

The hit-and-run vehicle was described as a 2015-17 dark gray, four-door Toyota Camry. No description of the driver was released.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

CNS contributed to this report