'I thought I would’ve lost my life': Milwaukee woman struck by hit-and-run driver unable to walk, pleads for suspect to turn themself in
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee woman says she should be dead after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. It happened on Milwaukee's south side, near W. Forest Home Avenue and W. Lincoln Avenue on December 30 at 10:30 pm.
Two weeks later, the road to recovery for 30-year-old Yamaris Santiago-Nuñez is just beginning.
Santiago-Nuñez said after work on Dec. 30, she was picking up tacos from a food truck for her and her mother. She was told the food would be ready in five minutes, so she was trying to get into her car as she waited. She asked us to show the surveillance video in which you see a vehicle swerving at a high speed, which she estimated to be 70 mph. It hits the Yamaris, her car, and the vehicle behind her.
"I feel blessed that I’m alive. It was a really bad accident. I thought I would’ve lost my life," she said. She crawled to the sidewalk, and the next thing she knew, she was in the hospital. She underwent pelvic surgery and spent the next week in the hospital with her family.
Santiago-Nuñez is now back home, having to use a walker, depending on her mom to help take care of her and her four-year-old son: "[I] pretty much have help for everything. Putting my clothes on, for going to pick up my kid at school. A lot of changes in those two weeks."
"It’s a little frustrating all the process and you know, the recovery," shared Santiago-Nuñez, as she ended 2025 in the hospital and starts 2026 unable to walk.
Also frustrating to yamaris is the fact that the suspect still hasn't been caught, "if that person would’ve stopped and said 'I was fast because of snow or lost my brakes, or anything like that - I would probably think that it was an accident. But how they take off and everything, they didn’t care. They just left me there." She said she believes the suspect "was really young. I know they’re probably scared as well. It would've been nice if that person would’ve stopped and tried to help me and see if we can go through the process together."
Yamaris estimates recovery could take up to a year and said her car is a total loss. Her family started a GoFundMe to help offset medical costs and cost-of-living as Yamaris and her mother go without work to help aid in recovery.
Milwaukee Police, as of Jan. 14 said they don't have a suspect, description or images to share with the public. If you know anything about whoever is responsible, you're urged to contact Milwaukee Police at (414)935-7219 or to remain anonymous,
Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa put out a statement on Jan. 10 asking for the public's help in catching the suspect.
Her full statement is below:
On December 30, 2025 at approximately 10:30 p.m., a driver hit and severely injured Yamaris Santiago, 30, as she was walking back to her vehicle after ordering food from a truck near Forest Home and Lincoln. The driver was speeding and just took off after striking Yamaris.
Yamaris, the mother of a four-year-old son, is in the hospital and has had at least one surgery to address a broken pelvis. She faces weeks of hospitalization, possible additional surgery and treatment, and a very long road to recovery.
This reckless and criminal act by the driver is not acceptable, and Milwaukee Police are asking for the public’s help to find the driver and the vehicle. I am asking anyone with information on this incident to please contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414)224-Tips or P3 Tips App.
Let’s come together to bring justice for Yamaris and her family.