Long-Time North Hollywood Woman Killed in Hit-and-Run Was Known as 'Sunshine'

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA -- Authorities today identified a woman in a wheelchair killed in North Hollywood by a hit-and-run motorist, who remains at large.

The suspect was driving a white Ford Transit van and took off after the collision, which occurred about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday at Burbank Boulevard and Bonner Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Patricia Richison, 72, died at a hospital about three hours later, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. Richison was dragged about 100 feet, according to police.

Richison's nickname was "Sunshine," and she had lived in the area for 50 years, according to friend and fellow wheelchair user Candy Moore, who told KCAL9 that she was with the victim just before she was killed.

"I heard the impact, and I knew, I just knew," Moore said tearfully. "Nobody would stop for her. She just said, 'oh, oh' and then she said my name. And that was it ... She didn't deserve that."

Video of the van speeding from the scene is available on the LAPD website at www.lapdonline.org.

A standing reward of up to $50,000, offered by the city of Los Angeles, is available for anyone providing information that helps solve a fatal hit-and- run. Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at (877) LAPD- 247.

City News Service