Funeral Set for Long Beach Hit-Run Witness

A funeral service will be held this Sunday, April 1st, for Yon Chreng, who was killed by a hit-run driver he tried to flag down and stop on a Long Beach street last week.

Chreng, 27, who is known as Eley, was fatally injured by the driver of a green Dodge pick-up truck that struck the car of Chreng's girlfriend at 12:50 a.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of Stanley Avenue. Chreng ran out to the street upon hearing the crash, tried to flag down the driver and instead, was intentionally hit and dragged several feet. The driver hit three more cars.

Long Beach Police Department detectives are still searching for the driver, who abandoned the truck and fled that night.

Services will be held Sunday at Stricklin Mortuary, 1952 Long Beach Blvd.:
--Viewing will begin at 9:00am
--The service is from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

His cousin Phalika Chhuon, of Belmont Shore, said Chreng is survived by his parents, nine siblings, and "many nieces and nephews who are confused and questioing where their uncle has gone, is he ever coming back?"

The  large and close Cambodian-American family has been stunned, Chhuon said, her e-mailed sorrow halting:

"His death has struck the family so hard ... with many, still in disbelief .... Not willing to accept the fact that our loved one is gone and within a blink of an eye, easily taken away from us...

"We pray, pray and pray. Hoping the man that committed this will be
caught soon, and let Yon's soul be at rest... For he has brought so
much pain to the lives of so many. Yon's parents, brothers and
sisters. Neighbors, family and friends. Nieces and nephews.

-Phalika"