Mother of Five Killed in Hit-And-Run

Leticia Magana was killed early Sunday morning as she and her husband walked home

A family in Joliet  as well as police are asking for your help in the search for the driver of a hit-and-run as they prepare to bury a mother of five.

Leticia Magana was killed early Sunday morning. She and her husband, Jose Magana, were walking home from a party on Bluff Street when a car heading northbound crossed the street to the opposite curb and hit the woman from behind, throwing her several feet in the air.

Jose Magana said he tried to do CPR, but his wife never woke up.

"They took away a treasure from my kids," Magana, a local warehouse employee, said Wednesday.

Leticia Magana was a stay-at-home mother for the couple's five children, ages 15, 13, 11, 8 and 3. A family member said the oldest took it his mother death the hardest. The youngest baby wakes up at night crying over his mom.

Witnesses described the vehicle as a dark SUV. Its driver side-view mirror was knocked off in the crash and the vehicle sustained some front end damage. Investigators said they're still searching for the driver, but have little to go on.

"We're looking for help from the community. Anything we can get. We really want to help out these people. We've called all the body shops. We've done as much research as we can. We're continuing, hoping to get a phone call from someone that knows something about it." said Joliet police Chief Mike Trafton.

The family now struggles to pay for her burial. They would like to send her ashes to Mexico, her  family lives. They would also like justice.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Joliet Police Department at 815-726-2491. Those willing to help the family with donations should call 815-955-3985.

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