Tragedy struck an elderly Army veteran's family as Robert Juarez, 75, succumbed to injuries sustained in a brutal September hit-and-run. Despite the family's prayers and hopes for his presence at his granddaughter's wedding, Juarez passed away on November 27 after months of fighting for his life. His daughter, Veronica Juarez, laments, "He should still be here with me," in a statement obtained by KSAT.
On September 1, while maneuvering his motorized wheelchair on the sidewalk of Whitewood near Military Drive, Juarez was first knocked over by a pickup truck and subsequently hit by a white GMC SUV that dragged him down the road and fled the scene. The driver of the pickup truck was ticketed for lacking car insurance, as informed by a KSAT article. Critically injured, Juarez was left fighting for his life, attached to a ventilator in the hospital. His daughter recounted, "He says, 'I don't think I'm going to make it.'"
San Antonio police have yet to locate the SUV's driver, who they state will be charged with failure to stop and render aid. The charges could be escalated depending on the findings of the medical examiner, who is investigating whether the accident was the cause of Juarez's death. Veronica Juarez implores for justice, saying, "I want to make sure again that these people see, you know, that they get what they deserve, which is justice."
Veronica is determined to keep her father's case in the spotlight. She affirmed, "I will not let it go cold," promising to persistently seek answers and demand law enforcement's attention. Anyone with information related to the hit-and-run is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP (7867) to aid in bringing the responsible driver to justice.
