Search Continues for Hit-and-Run Driver

Five-year-old Tamara Nelson has trouble comprehending the events of that day last May, when she watched as a hit-and-run driver struck and killed her brother, then laughed and sped away.

According to her grandmother, Lenzetta Lison, Tamara sometimes seems to blame herself for the death of Skyy Nelson, 7, who was struck as he and his sister ran across Tobias Street to an ice cream vendor.

“She shows me letters she writes to him,” Lison said. “She says: ‘I love you, I miss you, I wish you were here, so we could fight again.’ ”

Police are still searching for the driver, described as a male Latino, with shoulder- or collar-length hair and a mustache. He was driving a 1981 black Volkswagen Rabbit, possibly with a lowered body and small wheels.

On Thursday, Los Angeles police announced the extension of a $10,000 reward being offered by the city for the arrest and conviction of the driver.

The incident occurred at 10:40 a.m. on May 22 in the 9000 block of Tobias in Panorama City. Since that day, Lison has visited the LAPD’s Van Nuys station regularly, hoping the driver has been caught.

“I don’t hate him,” Lison said. “I just feel like he’s somebody that just doesn’t care.”

The ensuing media coverage produced leads, but none panned out, said Officer Rick Talkington, of the LAPD’s Traffic Division. Anyone with information is asked to call him or Officer John Miller at (818) 756-8391.

Police believe the driver may have been in the area to buy drugs. “There was a passenger with him, and we’re hoping that $10,000 might be a good incentive for (the passenger) to snitch him out,” Talkington said.

Lison, who was at the station Thursday, was surprised when police presented Tamara, who turned 5 Wednesday, with two wrapped birthday presents--a doll and a stuffed animal.

The family, police said, has fallen on hard financial times, and Tamara--who has won the hearts of officers at the Van Nuys station--had mentioned to them that she had not received a birthday present.

“Whenever you do these kinds of things, everybody wants to get involved,” said City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who had heard of the family’s plight and also brought gifts donated for the family.

“It just shows you that people care and love,” Lison said. “It gives you a lift and helps you to keep on.”