Suspected Female Driver In Deadly Harbor Gateway Hit-And-Run Turns Herself In
HARBOR GATEWAY (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said Friday that the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run car-into-house crash in Harbor Gateway has turned herself in.
The crash occurred just after 9 p.m. Wednesday.A group of elderly people were conducting a prayer meeting when the car slammed into a home located on the 12000 block of South Orchard Avenue.
Eight people were treated for injuries ranging from minor to grave. One woman was declared dead at the scene. She was later identified as 73-year-old Elsa de Belen.
Witnesses said several of the victims were pinned under the car. At least three of the victims were critically injured.
A witness told KCAL9's Rachel Kim that the driver appeared to be under the influence.
The 34-year-old suspect -- identified as Rashanda Monique Norman -- describes herself as a transient, reports CBS2's Jeff Nguyen.
The woman's last known address is Gardena. She surrendered to police at the 77th Street Station Thursday evening, according to the LAPD. The woman was accompanied by family members, according to Nguyen.
He also reports the suspect's car was bought at auction but wasn't properly registered. It had paper plates.
Norman is due in court Monday.
The suspect reportedly said she was remorseful and that she blacked out at time of crash. She is being held on a $50,000 bail.
On Friday, Nguyen spoke to de Belen's family.
They said she was a mother of five and grandmother of eight.
The family told Nguyen they set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for her funeral expenses.
The victim's husband said he dropped off his wife at the prayer service and then got the tragic news later from his son who was also attending.
"We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last year," said Rene de Belen, choking back tears. "And we were hoping to celebrate our marriage every five years. We were waiting for our 55th year. I said you now, we can make it to our 55th year. And look what happened."
Nguyen also spoke to the victim's daughter, Lorelei Punsalan.
"They were raising us from a distance but they were giving us the economic ability to be able to go to school," said Punsalan. "So we were able to do that because of them. And we are all professionals."
She explained that her mother worked in a doctor's office and sent money home to the Philippines (she and her husband came to the U.S. in 1986) to help put their five children through college.
The family told Nguyen they were aware of the arrest but wanted to focus only on their wife and mother.
