Bicyclist — a mom of two and a postal provider — killed by hit-and-run driver in Oceanside

Tracey Gross was using her bicycle house late Sunday evening in Oceanside when she was hit by a automobile that didn’t cease — dragging her bicycle 2 miles down the freeway.

Gross, 51, was critically injured and declared mind lifeless this week. She was an organ donor, and on Friday, surgeons at Scripps Inexperienced Hospital in La Jolla deliberate to take away her coronary heart, lungs and different organs to allow them to be given to others, her household stated.

The motive force who hit Gross has not but been positioned, however police suspect she or he lives close to the place the collision occurred — on state Route 76 and Singh Means.

Police have requested the general public to assist find the motive force and the automobile, which they imagine is a silver 2013 or 2015 Kia Optima. The automobile could have harm to its proper entrance bumper and proper headlight and might be lacking components to the underside engine cowl, police stated.

Gross was the mom of two grownup kids — Angel, 28, and Alec, 22. She labored as a postal provider the previous 10 years, strolling a mail route in Oceanside, her household stated.

“She is an incredible girl. She’s my hero,” stated her mom, Kim Sales space, who got here from her house in Reno, Nev., to be together with her daughter within the hospital.

Sales space stated her daughter was a “robust, courageous girl” who “at all times stood on her personal two toes.” She stated she had a wonderful soul, and beloved her kids and household deeply and beloved God.

“She might be missed,” she stated. “My coronary heart and soul aches for her, and we are going to actually miss her.”

Police stated Gross’ bicycle was dragged by the automobile and was discovered close to SR-76 and Faculty Boulevard, the place it had both dislodged from the automobile or was discarded after the motive force pulled it off the automobile.

Gross’ kids, former husband and different relations and buddies went to the scene of the crash Thursday, the place they planted colourful flowers.

They need whoever hit Gross to show themselves in.

“I can’t even fathom how somebody may try this to an individual, not to mention my child, and simply depart them for lifeless and drive away,” her mom stated.

Invoice Perez, her former husband, stated the couple remained good buddies after their divorce and talked steadily. She lived together with her son and a roommate.

When she didn’t come house Sunday evening, her son figured she had determined to spend the evening at her boyfriend’s place.

The household stated it took round 12 hours for them to be notified Gross was critically injured within the hospital despite the fact that she had her postal worker ID card and driver’s license together with her.

Perez, who rides a motorbike, stated he and his ex-wife had talked about being organ donors if one thing occurred to them. He stated Gross was wholesome — protecting match by strolling her postal route and using her bike — didn’t smoke and barely drank.

He puzzled if the hit-and-run driver was intoxicated, seeing because it was St. Patrick’s Day.

“She was a loving mom of two kids that was left for lifeless on the facet of the highway, and we wish the general public’s assist,” Perez stated. “Somebody wants to return ahead.”

Perez has arrange a GoFundMe account to boost cash for funeral bills and to assist Gross’ household.