San Jose family mourns woman killed in hit-and-run

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose police continue to search for the man they believe is responsible for a hit-and-run collision that left one woman dead.

Family members tell ABC7 News that 46-year-old Laura Reyes loved being around kids so much that she was actually in the process of becoming a family care provider. Some of her family returned to the scene on Friday to pay their respects.

Heartbreak is really the only way to describe how Alina Valencia, the victim's daughter, is feeling.

"She wasn't only my mother, she was my best friend, she was like a sister to me," Alina said.

Laura was killed Thursday morning at the intersection of Huran and Clarice drives by a hit-and-run driver.

Based on evidence at the scene, it appears the suspect left the roadway, hit Laura on the sidewalk, and then sped off, ditching the car a few blocks away.

A homeowner nearby may have captured the suspect with a surveillance camera. At the request of police, ABC7 News covered the man's face. But in the video you can see him walking across a driveway. San Jose police are working all leads, trying to track down the driver.

"Why you did it man? Why did you take my mom away, you know?" said Laura's son, Angel Valencia Reyes, with a sigh.

Angel says she loved living life to the fullest.

She was a mother of three, grandmother of five, and overall a fun-loving woman with a big, embracing smile.

Angel and his family can't comprehend how the driver could be such a cold-hearted person.

"If he did that to my mom, he can do it to somebody else," he said. "You know, heartless. In a heartbeat."

Daughter Alina hopes a lesson can be learned from this tragedy.

"Cherish your mom, be with her, as much as you can, every second, every minute, every hour, spend as much as you want with her," she said.

A family wanting this community to know, how much they loved their mom.