Las Vegas Mother Rebuilding Her Life After Losing Leg in North Las Vegas Hit-and-Run
June 17, 2025 – North Las Vegas, NV
Less than three months ago, Angela Martinez, a 32-year-old single mother of two, was walking home from a late shift at a local diner when her life changed forever.
Struck by a speeding vehicle in a brutal hit-and-run crash on Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas, Angela sustained catastrophic injuries, including the loss of her left leg above the knee. The driver fled the scene and remains unidentified, leaving behind a shattered family and a woman forced to face a new reality.
Today, Martinez is not just surviving—she’s rebuilding. With remarkable strength and the support of a tight-knit community, she’s fighting to reclaim her independence, mobility, and sense of purpose.
The Night That Changed Everything
It was around 1:30 a.m. on March 23 when Angela was walking along the sidewalk, less than a block from her home. Surveillance footage later obtained by police shows a dark-colored SUV swerving onto the curb, striking her from behind, and then speeding away without stopping.
Angela was rushed to University Medical Center in critical condition. Doctors were forced to amputate her left leg in order to save her life. She also suffered fractured ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and severe road rash.
“I remember waking up in the hospital and just crying—not because I lost my leg, but because I didn’t know how I was going to be there for my kids,” Martinez recalls. “They’re everything to me.”
Recovery, One Step at a Time
In the weeks following her surgery, Angela underwent intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy. Her two children—8-year-old Sofia and 6-year-old Mateo—became her source of motivation.
“I promised them that I wouldn’t give up. If I couldn’t walk the same way, I’d find a new way,” she said.
Through a GoFundMe campaign started by a coworker, the community raised over $87,000 to help cover medical expenses, therapy, and living costs. That support allowed Angela to receive a customized prosthetic leg and begin outpatient therapy sessions.
At the Nevada Community Rehabilitation Center, her physical therapist, Danielle Greene, describes Angela as “a warrior in every sense.”
“She never complains. She shows up with determination, even when it’s painful. She’s not just rebuilding her body—she’s rebuilding her spirit.”
Justice Still Pending
Despite efforts from the North Las Vegas Police Department, the driver responsible for the crash has yet to be identified. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“This was not just a crime—it was a cowardly act that left a mother maimed and a family traumatized,” said Detective Reuben Carter. “We owe it to Angela and her children to find the person responsible.”
Local residents have been circulating flyers and social media posts with still images from surveillance footage, hoping to jog someone’s memory.
From Victim to Advocate
Though Angela still struggles with pain and mobility, she has recently begun speaking publicly about her experience, hoping to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and hit-and-run accountability in Nevada.
She’s also become involved with Mothers Against Hit and Runs, a grassroots organization fighting for tougher laws and more funding for roadside surveillance.
“I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else,” Angela says. “If sharing my story can stop one more hit-and-run, or convince someone to speak up, then it’s worth it.”
Looking Ahead
Angela now lives in an accessible apartment in East Las Vegas, and with continued support from social services and her therapy team, she hopes to return to part-time work by the end of the year.
Her children remain her greatest joy and driving force. This past weekend, she attended Sofia’s dance recital, standing proudly with the help of a walker and her prosthetic leg.
“I may not be the same person I was before the accident,” she says, “but in some ways, I’m stronger. I’m still a mom. I’m still here. And that means everything.”