SAN MARCOS, Calif. (KGTV) - It’s a desperate call for justice, both by family and police, to find the driver responsible for hitting and killing a San Marcos woman earlier this week.
Lost and confused -- those are the only words that describe Isabel Mera.
“I don’t know who I am today,” Mera said.
On Tuesday, she lost the love of her life, Helen Gomez. This July, they would have celebrated 20 years together.
“I struck gold when I met Helen,” Mera cried.
On the evening of April 15, Gomez was walking her 14-year-old dog, Seth, down Smilax Road in San Marcos, but she never made it home.
Panicked, Mera called family and nearby hospitals. The next day, she found Gomez was admitted to Palomar Hospital.
“I thought I was going to walk in, and she was going to say, ‘Why didn’t you get here earlier?’ ... That’s not what happened,” Mera sighed.
It was then that Mera found out Gomez was the victim of a hit-and-run. There were no cameras and no witnesses, except for Seth.
“I’m a little bit at peace and at solace knowing that he stood by her side the entire time and she was with somebody,” Mera said.
Neighbors who heard the commotion bolted out to see what had just happened.
“They thought that Helen was on the floor consoling the dog because the dog had gotten hit. Not the other way around,” Mera said.
Seth stood by Gomez’s weakened body until paramedics arrived. But his loyalty, family prayers, and intense surgeries were not enough.
Gomez, the Disney lover with an adventurous soul, took her last breath on Tuesday. She was 61 years old.
What is now left on Smilax Road are dark skid marks the length of four cars, a memorial cross, and a mystery.
At this point, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department does not have a person of interest. They are asking the public to be on the lookout for a silver car with damage on the front bumper, grill, and hood.
Mera has another plea directed at the driver: Just turn yourself in.
“Do the right thing for your soul. Helen’s at peace, we know that. Bring yourself peace. Bring us peace,” Mera said.
If you have any information about this incident, call Deputy Christopher Murray at the San Diego County Sheriff’s San Marcos Station.
You can also leave an anonymous tip at 888-580-8477. You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to a felony arrest.
