Five-year old passes away after March hit-and-run

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - A five-year-old girl who was badly injured in a car crash, more than a week ago has died. 

On March 21, five-year-old Illianna Martinez and her parents were driving northbound on Palo Blanco Lane, turning left onto Teri Road, when police said a Dodge Ram struck them from the left side. Police said the driver and passenger of the Ram ran from the scene. Little Illianna was severely injured.

On April 2, Illianna's family and Austin police announced that she had succumbed to her injuries.

“Lillianna was taken from us way too young,” said Lynda Perez, her aunt. "She was five years old. It was just so senseless what happened and it could have been prevented."

Austin police are hoping anyone who saw the crash that day will come forward with information about the people who were inside the pickup truck.

“What I hope they accomplish is finding and apprehending the person that did this, and putting them in the place they belong, behind bars, so they'll never do this to anybody else every again,” said Perez.

In the meantime, Illiana's family continues to grieve, and remember the happy and bubbly kid she once was.

“She was always singing, dancing, she was a girly girl, she loved to dress up, she loved to go to school,” said Perez. "Our lives will never be the same."

If anyone knows anything about the crash, they are asked to call the Austin Police Department tip line at 512-472-TIPS.