Family of man hit, killed while riding bicycle seeks answers

Police searching for driver who ran over Santiago 'Jimmy' Castillo, 61

SAN ANTONIO – Relatives of a man who was run over and killed while riding his bicycle in an East Side neighborhood Monday night hope that the driver will come forward.

San Antonio police found Santiago Castillo, 61, gravely injured near the intersection of Denver and Piedmont streets late Monday night. 

Police said it appeared he was a victim of a hit-and-run crash.

"He didn't deserve to die this way," Jessica Martinez, Castillo's daughter, said.  "They could've at least pulled over, rendered aid. I mean, you don't leave somebody thrown on the street like that."

Martinez was one of several relatives who gathered at his home Tuesday morning, grief-stricken and angry over his death.

Police said the driver of a dark-colored SUV kept going after running over Castillo.

Based on the police markings and scrape marks still visible at the scene Tuesday morning, it appeared Castillo and his bicycle were dragged possibly as far as 50 yards. 

Linda Garcia, another of Castillo's relatives, said that a neighbor who reportedly has surveillance video of the crash told the family there were two vehicles that hit him. She said one driver stopped to remove Castillo's bicycle from his car.

"So they had enough time to get that out of the bumper, but they didn't have enough time to wait there with him," Garcia said.

The relatives placed a wreath in Castillo's honor steps away from where he was killed. 

Garcia said she hopes the driver responsible for his death will feel her family's pain.

"The family needs closure. They need to know what happened," Garcia said.

Anyone with information on the crash or the driver is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP (7867).

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About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.