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Escondido father hit and killed on SR-78 identified by fiancée

Jonathan was killed Saturday night
Posted at 11:24 PM, Apr 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-12 02:39:22-04

The fiancée of a man killed by a hit and run driver is asking witnesses to come forward. It was a little after 9:30 p.m. Friday night when Jonathan Rojas was walking on state route 78 in Escondido.

That's when he was hit by a vehicle, and left for dead in the center divide. 

After the accident, other motorists stopped and called 9-1-1. Paramedics were on scene quickly but it was too late to save Jonathan's life. 

RELATED: Man struck, killed on Sr-78 in Escondido

Elizabeth Montes is heartbroken by her fiancé's death.

"I'm just thinking of our future and the fact that he died alone right here and I would have done anything.. anything to be here; at least in his last moment," she said. 

Jonathan was 25.  

"We just had a baby," Montes said. "He's seven weeks old and (Jonathan) was so proud of him. It's just really hard."

She knows it was an accident - but says that accident became a crime when the driver took off.  

"He was just left there," she said. "It's almost too much to bear. But I have to stay strong for my son, so I will."

Police say the car likely has front-end damage and may have lost the driver’s side mirror. Montes said she plans to plant a cross alongside the freeway.

CHP is asking anyone with information to call 760-643-3400 or their dispatch center 858-637-3800.