Memorial held at Oceanside beach one year after teen killed in hit-and-run

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A year after 14-year-old Angel Ornelas Ponce was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Escondido, his family continues to seek justice and commemorate his life.

Angel was struck by a vehicle while skateboarding near the intersection of North Fig Street and Millbrook Place on Aug. 8 last year. Despite the release of a photo and video of a suspected gray Honda Civic, no arrests have been made.

"He gave us a beautiful day and he's here with us. I feel he's here with us," said Miriam Ponce Ornelas, Angel's mother, during a memorial at Oceanside Harbor Beach.

Angel's family and friends gathered at the beach to honor his memory, a place he loved.

"He was such a beach body. He would be in the water until it was dark," Miriam recalled.

Angel's father, Angel Sr., expressed gratitude for the community's support, saying, "I can see him in them: his friends, his teachers, family. They enjoyed the same things that he enjoyed and I can relive the memories that we had."

Family friend Aaliyah Pedroza emphasized their commitment to seeking justice, stating, "We're going to keep his memory alive until we get justice and after we get justice."

Escondido Police are still investigating the case, having released images of a newer gray Honda Civic believed to be involved, but the driver remains unidentified.

As the investigation continues, Angel's family holds onto hope for justice while cherishing the memories of their beloved son. "We are missing a big part of our lives," Miriam expressed, highlighting the enduring impact of Angel's absence.

FOX 5/KUSI's Jennifer Franco contributed to this report.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.