The family of a Hartford woman who died of injuries sustained in a hit-and-run in Hartford is speaking out.
Fifty-six-year-old Rosella Shuler was lost both of her legs when she was hit by Toyota Highlander full of teenagers while she was standing on the sidewalk on Ashley Street on July 18. A man who was standing on the sidewalk was also hurt. She died at the hospital on July 29.
Eighteen-year-old Deykevious Russaw has been identified as the driver and faces charges in the case.
Her son and daughter spoke with NBC Connecticut about their mother and their thoughts on the arrest.
Jessica Vazquez, Shuler’s daughter, said that it seemed like her mother’s condition was improving at the hospital, despite having lost both of her legs.
“I felt that she was recovering. That she was showing me that she would be strong,” Vazquez said.
“When I left last week she was doing ok and then all of a sudden I come back, not even a day get home and I had turn around get on a plane to come back,” added Christopher Walker, Shuler’s son.
By the end of last week she’d grown weaker and Saturday night Shuler’s four children said goodbye.
“She said I love you, that’s it. That’s all I heard from her,” Walker said.
Shuler died 11 days after the crash.
“I cannot say hi to my mom anymore, I can’t call her on the phone. That just hurts me,” Vazquez said.
Shuler’s daughter says she was relieved to hear that police had identified the driver, but she thinks all six of the teens who fled the stolen SUV that day should be charged.
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“She was a good person and she didn’t deserve this,” Vazquez said.
A mother that she talked to every day, now gone.
“I don’t like goodbyes at all and that really hurt me really bad. There’s always a time to say goodbye for right now, but for later you see them later. That hurts to not see her later,” Vazquez said.
