MESA, AZ — With the backdrop of Veterans day, Leanora Garcia is asking for help.
"I figured red, white and blue for my brother’s service," said Garcia as she tied flowers to a chain link fence near Higley and the US 60. "He was really really proud to be a marine, and he did a lot to make sure he became a marine."
On this day, making sure she does all she can to remember her brother Josh Garcia.
"My brother and I, we used to call each other twins cause we didn't like to be separated," said Garcia.
Over the last year, she's yearned to go back in time.
To undue the harsh reality of losing the person who had so much more life to live.
"My brother was working multiple jobs, trying to get a house, put his wife through school, he wanted children, he was just talking to me about children," said Garcia.
Last November, while driving home from one of those jobs, his flatbed truck loaded with construction equipment drifted off the road and into an abandoned car parked on the shoulder.
"That caused his truck to roll and he was ejected during the roll, they don't believe he was wearing a seat belt," said Garcia.
Moments after the crash, a pair of good Samaritans pulled over and grabbed some of the scattered construction signs to build a barricade around the injured 22-year-old. What happened next still haunts Leanora and her family.
"And they were about to call for help when somebody came through the accident," said Garcia.
A driver in what police describe as a dark blue or black Chevy Tahoe or GMC Yukon ran over the already injured Marine, killing Josh and refusing to stop.
"I don't understand why he had to be run over, I don't know why this person didn't stop," said Garcia.
She now lives without that answer as that person has yet to be caught.
A display spelling his name now graces the area where he lost his life with hope that as more people see it and read the message along with it, someone will come forward.
"It's been theorized that there are only six people linking you and any given person in this world. Six people between me and the person who did this to my family. So please share, ask others to keep an eye out," said Garcia reading from a small note next to her brother's picture.
State troopers believe the suspect vehicle is a 2001-2006 dark blue or black Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon. The vehicle will have damage to its right side and undercarriage.
If you have any information, please call law enforcement.
