The family of Lisa Marie Martinez is asking for the public’s help after Dallas police said a driver struck her in Oak Cliff and fled, leaving Martinez critically injured.
For 24 hours, Martinez’s family has held a vigil at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Her sister, Eve Martinez Zamago, said Martinez remains on life support despite undergoing multiple surgeries.
“We have so many family members that are just wondering why, wondering why. Why couldn’t y’all stop and render aid?” Zamago said.
Dallas police said Martinez was struck just before 9 p.m. on Aug. 24 in the 1200 block of North Westmoreland Road. The driver fled the scene.
Zamago said police told the family that Martinez did not have identification when she was transported to the hospital, leaving her identity unknown. Her family learned two weeks after the crash that she was at Methodist Dallas Medical Center fighting for her life.
“It’s just a lot of mixed emotions about why the police didn’t go above and beyond to find who this woman was, my sister, like who was she to get any kind of help,” Zamago said.
Zamago believes her sister was riding a bike when she was hit. Martinez’s siblings and four children, however, have few other details about what happened.
“We just want the public’s help…” Zamago said.
The family believes someone traveling along the busy Oak Cliff thoroughfare may have information that could help them find the person responsible.
“They want justice for their mom. And so do I. I want justice for my sister, so yes just pray for our family that we find the people or person that did this… and get justice,” Zamago said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.