Family asks for hit and run driver to come forward

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - It's a horrific crime that remains unsolved, a hit and run crash that left an elderly woman in very bad shape.

The woman was walking along a Phoenix roadway when she was struck by the car. Witness reports saw someone get out of the car and drag the victims body to the side of the road before driving off.

Now the woman's family is pleading for help in finding the person responsible.

It has been six days since Betty Wiles was found on the side of the road clinging to life, and now her children want whoever is responsible to follow advice that Betty taught them, do the right thing and tell the truth.

While holding yellow roses and fighting back tears, Betty's children listened to the excruciating details of the hit and run that put their mother in intensive care.

"We had another witness that came forward and reported, and this is just absolutely shocking to me, that he saw a red passenger car drive up to Betty, she was in the roadway. The passenger got out of the car, grabbed her by the arm, and drug her over to the side of the road, and at that point the car took off in one direction and then the passenger actually walked away from the scene," said Officer James Holmes.

Just before 7 p.m. on February 5, police found Betty laying in the roadway near 73rd Avenue and Indian School Road. She was suffering from life-threatening injuries. Her daughter Susanna says what was supposed to be a celebratory weekend quickly turned into a struggle for life.

"On Saturday, on her birthday she was in the ICU at the hospital. Luckily all her children were able to be there and be present with her, even if she wasn't," said Susanna Wiles.

As the police continue their investigation, Susanna says the mother of 7 and grandmother of 14 deserves justice, begging the person responsible to come forward.

"She always taught us to do the right thing, that is the right thing, turn yourself in, we need the closure," said Susanna.

Betty remains in the ICU with life-threatening injuries, police ask anyone who has information to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.