We held a press conference recently along with LAPD to announce that the City Council approved a $50,000 reward at my request for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the hit-and-run death of Francisco Pedraza. The 70-year-old man was struck and killed while crossing the street on Olympic Boulevard and Evergreen Avenue in Boyle Heights. He was selling jewelry from a small stand next to a lunch truck at about 11:15 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 when he crossed the street and was struck by a white vehicle. I met his wife Carmen who was quite distraught but wanted to come out and ask for the public’s help in solving this case. Her husband was originally from Mexico City and had been living in the United States for more than 20 years. He was a hard-working man doing his best to provide for his family when he was killed. If you have any information, no matter how inconsequential you might think it is, it could lead to the break in this case that police are looking for. Please call Central Traffic Detectives at (213) 972-2445, or call LAPD’s 24 hour hotline, 1-(877) 527-3247.
