Family's plea to find hit-and-run driver

DETROIT – The family of a hit-and-run victim is hoping that someone will turn themselves in to police after the crash that occurred two weeks ago on Detroit’s east side.

Tonya El, 56, was killed Feb. 23 at East Davison and Caldwell streets, west of Mound Road, around 10:30 p.m.

Several family members gathered Monday night to comfort one another and pray that the driver comes forward.

“She was free-spirited and she loved to laugh,” Beverly Johnson said. “She was always smiling, to see her smile was beautiful.”

Her family said El had a difficult life due to some mental challenges, but her love for others was contagious.

El was crossing Davision Street when she was struck by a red or burgundy minivan. The hit the brakes, but left the scene.

“It would put us at peace,” Beverly Johnson said about the driver coming forward. “It would put us all at peace and we need that right now. This was so tragic and we need that in our life right now.”


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You can watch Kimberly Gill weekdays anchoring Local 4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and streaming live at 10 p.m. on Local 4+. She's an award-winning journalist who finally called Detroit home in 2014. Kim has won Regional Emmy Awards, and was part of the team that won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast in 2022.