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Family Tearily Remembers Grandmother Killed In La Habra Hit-And-Run

LA HABRA (CBSLA.com) — The family of a woman killed in a hit-and-run Friday evening gathered today to mourn her loss and celebrate her life.

Sandra Ceballos, a 38-year-old mother of three and a grandmother to three, was killed and a friend injured when a black Cadillac crashed into the women near Rigby Street and Whittier Boulevard just before 9 p.m.

The alleged driver is in custody. The 20-year-old woman -- identified as Caroline Kim of Hacienda Heights -- was arrested after a chase by Whittier police.

CBS2's Art Barron attended the emotional memorial service.

He said Ceballos' sister and son were both grief-stricken.

Through tears, the woman asked, "Why did he take my sister, Papa. Why? Why? Oh no."

About Ceballos, her sister added, "She laughed, she danced. We were silly together."

The woman's sister remained in disbelief.

"It's not her time," she said, "it's not her time."

One of the women's children, a son, was also devastated.

"She was always there for me," said her son, Jesse Mancanares.

The women had just purchased beer and were headed home when they were hit by the vehicle.

Ceballos' family told Barron they believe the driver might have already been being pursued at the time of the accident. They think Kim was being chased by an unmarked police car.

"Suspecting the police were involved, they were undercovers, they had to have been. I don't know how many units responded within a matter of minutes, seconds," said Jesse Castro, the victim's brother-in-law.

Barron spoke to police on Saturday who denied there was a chase going on when the women were hit.

The impact of the crash was so great the women were sent flying 50 feet, reports Barron.

The victim's son heard the crash.

"I came outside. I saw my stepdad. I saw police," said Mancanares, "I saw the ambulance."

The suspect will be charged as soon as she is released from the hospital, reports Barron.

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