Mother dies 9 days after hit-and-run crash that left her hospitalized

A Long Beach woman who was seriously hurt in a hit-and-run crash in Bixby Knolls last month has died, according to police.

Nikki Rash, 78, was driving through the intersection of California Avenue and San Antonio Drive on Dec. 26 when another driver ran a red light and crashed into her, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Rash declined treatment at the scene but was taken to a local hospital just a few hours later where she was hospitalized until her death on Saturday, Jan. 4, according to authorities.

"Mom passed away this afternoon surrounded by family at her bedside when she went to be with God," Rash's son, Chris, said in a post on Facebook Saturday afternoon. "Mom lived a great life and had many family and friends. A celebration of life will be held later this spring in her honor."

Rash was driving to the grocery story and only five blocks from her home when she was hit, according to a Facebook post from Chris.

In the hospital, Rash was unresponsive and needed assistance breathing due to severe head trauma, according to Chris. Dec. 30 was an "especially difficult day, for it was my parents 57th Anniversary," he wrote.

Detectives, meanwhile, are still looking for the other driver, who briefly got out of his car following the crash and then fled the scene.

At this time, they believe the other driver was distracted when they ran the red light and crashed.

The LBPD is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or can help identify the hit-and-run driver to contact detectives at 562-570-7355.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the date of Rash's death.