A 72-year-old Korean woman was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Long Beach, and local police have released surveillance camera photos of the suspect vehicle as they track down the driver.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, 72-year-old Tate Song was struck by a vehicle traveling south near the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and East 23rd Street at around 9 p.m. on September 5. Police found Song lying on the railroad tracks, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police initially stated that Song was struck by a car and then hit by an oncoming Metro train, but later corrected their statement after the investigation confirmed she was not hit by the train.
Surveillance camera images released by police on the 9th show the suspect vehicle leaving the scene. The vehicle was identified as a silver Ford Mustang with a black convertible top, stripes, and custom wheels.
Song’s daughter, Sonja Rose, recalled that her mother was a generous person who shared food with strangers and cared for her neighbors and community. Song, who retired after working on aircraft electrical systems at Boeing, enjoyed spending time with her 10-year-old granddaughter. The mother and daughter had been saving travel money to visit family in Korea.
Following her mother’s sudden death, Rose emphasized that traffic lights and stop signs should be additionally installed near the railroad tracks to protect pedestrians.
The bereaved family has set up a temporary memorial space near the accident site and is raising funeral funds through GoFundMe.
Anyone with information can contact the Long Beach Police Department or the investigating detective. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to LA Crime Stoppers.
