Hit-and-run victim’s family makes plea to public

Deepa Bharath

Family members of a 24-year-old man critically injured in a

hit-and-run accident Monday night asked for the public’s help in

finding the driver who reportedly fled the scene.

Paul Awad was walking across the street on a marked crosswalk in

the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Bonita Canyon Road at

about 9:25 p.m. on Memorial Day when he was hit by a dark-colored

sedan, possibly a BMW, traveling north on MacArthur, Newport Beach

police said.

Awad was thrown about 120 feet away from the point of impact and

suffered severe head, leg and abdominal injuries, officials said. He

was still in the intensive care unit at Western Medical Center in

Santa Ana Wednesday evening.

Family members said his condition was “touch and go” and that the

prognosis was not encouraging.

More than 100 people packed the Police Department’s auditorium

where the victim’s brother, Mark Awad, addressed the crowd as he held

hands with his wife and his brother, Keith Awad.

“All friends of Paul are feeling tremendous grief over this

situation,” Mark Awad said, looking at the overflowing auditorium,

which barely had standing space. “We’re trying to get the word out

and we’re hoping that someone comes forward with information, whether

it’s someone who saw it happen or it’s a body shop that saw a car

matching the description of the hit-and-run vehicle.”

The family is “looking for answers,” Mark Awad said.

Friends of Paul Awad held hands, hugged and shed tears. Some of

them sat on the steps outside the police station with their heads

bent down. Others crowded the lobby and the auditorium, offering

words of support to family members and to each other.

Awad’s friend, Cara Mungo, said she reacted to the news of his

accident with utter disbelief. Awad was the second in their

close-knit group of friends to meet with a hit-and-run accident.

Their friend James Jerome Snyder was killed on his way to work on the

Costa Mesa Freeway in September.

Mungo, who was Snyder’s fiancee, said Awad stood by her during her

time of grief.

“He was my rock,” she said, tearing up. “It seems like the

nightmare, which started nine months ago, is still continuing.”

Friends described Awad as a happy, fun-loving person who loved to

hang out with friends. He moved from West Los Angeles back to Newport

Beach, where he grew up, six months ago. He worked as a salesperson

in Neiman Marcus in Fashion Island and was a photographer on the

side, his friends said.

Awad is a Corona del Mar High School graduate and formed many

strong friendships in junior high and high school.

Kelly Piercey said she has known Awad for 12 years, since junior

high.

“He was at my wedding,” she said, breaking down. “I’m mad inside.

I’m angry that someone would do this and just leave. And I’m mad that

it happened to someone who would do just about anything for his

friends.”

Awad enjoyed riding his speedboat and spending time with friends

in local hangouts, Piercey said.

Michelle McGinnis said she was “shaking” when she heard the news

about Awad’s accident.

“Paul introduced me to my fiance,” she said. “I’m here to support

the family. I want to know what happened. We all have a lot of

questions about how it happened.”

Newport Beach Police are still investigating the incident, Sgt.

Steve Shulman said. Investigators are looking at footage from

tollbooth cameras on the Corona del Mar Freeway and also believe that

a taxicab driver may have seen the accident occur, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newport Beach Police

Traffic Investigator Mark Fisher at (949) 644-3746 or (800) 550-6273.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.