Port Richmond hit-and-run victim out of coma, driver still sought

PORT RICHMOND (WPVI) -- A grandmother who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run in Port Richmond is now out of a coma but police are still searching for the driver who hit her.

65-year-old Carmen Ramos has always been a full of life type of woman who just loved to dress up in silly clothes and have fun with her grandchildren.

But her family says she was almost taken away in an instant.

"We all heard an impact but until I heard my sister screaming nobody realized my mother was hit by a car," said Yvette Ramos, victim's daughter.

Family members say on Friday, January 2nd around 5:00 p.m., Ramos was about to get into a car on the 3100 block of Cedar Street when a passing vehicle struck her.

The impact took out the passenger side mirror of the dark colored Ford Explorer. The driver kept going.

"Maybe it was an accident, maybe it wasn't an accident but all they had to do was stop," said Marcos Ramos, victim's son.

"Mom's a human. It could have been their mother, it could have been their daughter or anyone they love. Please step forward and help my mom and help us understand what happened that night," said Yvette.

Ramos, who lives in Juniata, was in Port Richmond spending time with her family for the holidays.

She was in a coma until this week. Ramos came out of it and now she's responsive and breathing on her own.

"My mother would help anybody in the streets. Me growing up young, I remember her bringing people off the streets just to feed them soup for lunch, just to give them something hot in their stomach," said Marcos.

Now her family is looking for help to find the hit and run driver of the 1995 to 1998 Ford Explorer which could still have damage to its front right passenger side.

"Once he sees and realizes that he hit a person, he's going do the right thing. I know he will and I forgive him," said Daniel Ramos, victim's son.

While police continue their search for the hit and run driver, Ramos has a long road ahead.

Her family says she still can't speak and she will most likely be moved to a rehab center in a few days.