Family mourns 26-year-old woman hit and killed while walking in South Gate

SOUTH GATE, Calif. () — A family is mourning the loss of a woman who was struck and killed by a car in South Gate while she was out exercising with her younger sister. Now, the community is rallying to support them through this difficult time.

Loved ones say Aracely Macedo, 26, was struck and killed when an erratic driver veered onto the sidewalk while she was walking at South Gate Park on Monday.

“Nobody like her. She was very positive. She always, you know, tried to do everything the right way. Very honest, just such a great person,” said her older sister, Aleyda Macedo.

According to the family, Aracely and 17-year-old Myrna Macedo were walking together when the vehicle suddenly came toward them. Myrna said she tried to warn her sister.

“I tried to warn her. I tried to tell her to move, move,” she said. “I seen where my sister was hit. It was by a pole, so the impact, it was really strong that he knocked down a pole.”

Video from the scene showed extensive damage to a light pole, a truck and a bench.

Aleyda said the driver also struck others before hitting Aracely.

“He actually hit someone, another lady, he injured another lady, and there’s another person that he knocked off a bike, so he definitely had plenty of time to stop, but he just, I don’t know what was going on in his mind. We don’t know if there was anything involved, such as drugs or any substances,” Aleyda said.

Aracely, a Cal State Northridge graduate, was taken to the hospital but did not survive. Her family later held a run-and-walk fundraiser in her honor, reflecting her love of nature.

“She was more like an older sister to me. She mentored me, my kids. She was very pure-hearted. There’s nobody like her,” Aleyda said.

Family members said the driver was handcuffed and taken from the scene, but later appeared at the hospital with law enforcement and was released to his family.

The sisters now have a message for the driver.

“I hope you guys never ever have to deal with a tragedy like this. I hope you guys won’t ever know how this pain feels, and I hope you pay for what you did to my sister,” Myrna said.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.