Officials with the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are looking for the boyfriend of a woman who was found dead on Crown Valley Road after a traffic collision was reported in the area.

At around 1:56 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, deputies from Palmdale Sheriff’s Station and officers from the California Highway Patrol responded to the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Crown Valley Parkway regarding a hit and run, pedestrian struck by a vehicle call, according to officials 

“Upon arriving, a female victim was discovered just off the roadway, unresponsive,” reads an official post from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The woman was later identified as 41-year-old Lilia Garcia, who is survived by her three children, ages 7, 14 and 18, according to officials.

While California Highway Patrol investigators initiated a hit and run investigation, they began to determine that Garcia’s cause of death may not be as clear as initially believed. 

“As the investigation progressed, it became apparent to CHP investigators the incident may not have been a traffic collision and the cause of the traumatic injury to the victim was not immediately identifiable,” the post reads. 

While a traffic accident was not ruled out, Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau officials were consulted, and CHP requested they respond to assist in the investigation.

“At this time the cause of the victim’s death, and whether it was criminal in nature, is unknown,” the post reads. “This incident is being categorized as an unknown cause death, which are routinely investigated by Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.”

Detectives are now seeking Garcia’s boyfriend, 32-year-old Fabian Augustin Santiago, as they believe he may have information regarding the incident.

The investigation into Garcia’s death is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Antelope Valley California Highway Patrol Office at (661) 948-8541 or contact CHP dispatch 24/7 at (323) 259-3200.

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