Hit-and-run victim dies in hospital while wife gives birth to fifth child

Police search for driver who left scene

SAN ANTONIO – A hit-and-run accident last Friday left a motorcyclist with serious injuries. He later died in the hospital while his wife was giving birth to their fifth child.

Joe Leal Jr.'s family remember him as a great man.

"He was kind, nice and loving," Leal's daughter, Jasmine, said.

"We can see that life can be taken, but life is given to us again," Joe Leal Sr. said.

Leal Jr. leaves behind a mourning family that wants to know why the driver who struck him didn't stop.

"Accidents happen, but face up to it. Be righteous and do what is correct," Leal Sr. said.

The crash happened last Friday at 8:30 a.m. on Highway 90 near Callaghan. According to the police report, Leal was driving recklessly when a silver Ford pickup collided with him. The driver did not stop to render aid, the police report said. 

No arrests have been made.

The family has set up two GoFundMe accounts to help with funeral costs:

GoFundMe Link 1

GoFundMe Link 2

--------------------------------------------------------

Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT 12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.

Sign up today. It's Free.

 

 


About the Author:

Erica Hernandez is an Emmy award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in the broadcast news business. Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. She's currently the court reporter and cohost of the podcast Texas Crime Stories.