Vigil held for East Vancouver hit-and-run victim

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A man who died after a hit and run in East Vancouver is being remembered as a hard worker and family man.

“We’re in shock right now,” says Suzette Amaya at a vigil held for her brother, Donnell Auger, who was found by police at the side of the road at Kingsway and Glen Driver early Thursday morning. Flowers and pictures were laid out while dozens of family members and friends people lit candles and shared fond memories of Auger at the site where he was fatally injured.

Amaya says the family is really struggling after losing Auger following the holidays. She is still wrapping her head around what happened and why someone left her brother after he was hit.

“How can you not have compassion? Just leave somebody here,” Amaya wonders. “This area will always be a hard area for us as a family. We just want to remember my brother because he is not alone.”

She says the family is still waiting for answers from the authorities on what exactly happened and expects coroners report in the new year. However, she is angry that no one has been charged in the hit-and-run, although a 54-year-old driver has come forward whose car has been seized by Vancouver police.

“I’m pissed, I’m really upset,” Amaya says. “This guy can go home to his family during the holidays and my brother’s children are home alone.”

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Police say they are investigating what led to the hit and run, but they think the driver did the right thing by coming forward. Sergeant Jason Robillard says the investigation is on-going and involves analyzing evidence from the scene, interviews and other forensics.

“Some people try to avoid detection or do whatever they can, and we know there’s all kinds of circumstances surrounding these incidences, but we need you to come forward and speak to the investigators,” Robillard says.

— with files from Taran Parmar