Santa Monica Fatal Hit-And-Run Victim's Father Angry About Son's Death

SANTA MONICA, CA -- The father of the man killed by suspected drunken driver in Santa Monica last Monday is angry and said he don't know how to move forward.

“This really burns me up to know that someone would treat my son like a piece of trash, run him over in the street and just leave him there and take off; that hurts,” Donald Thomas Sr. told CBS2. “He was my only son.”

Thomas said he doesn't know to move forward after his son's death on March 21. Donald Thomas Jr., 40, was paying for parking at a kiosk adjacent to the Santa Monica courthouse when he was struck allegedly by Absadi Tewelde Kidane.

Kidane, 21, allegedly fled the scene, struck another vehicle then ran from police, said Deputy District Attorney Sarika Kim.

"Several witnesses described the suspect vehicle as entering the parking lot from Fourth Street and (proceeding) westbound at a high rate of speed," Santa Monica police Lt. Saul Rodriguez said. "The vehicle continued through a parking gate and struck a pedestrian standing at a pay parking booth.

"The vehicle continued across Main Street and struck a parked car. The suspect driver exited the vehicle and fled the location. Officers gave chase and confronted the suspect at the 300 block of Pico Boulevard. The suspect was taken into custody following a struggle with officers."

Police suspect that Kidane was under the influence at the time of the accident. He was charged March 23 with one count each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter and resisting an executive officer, along with allegations that he fled the scene of the crash. Kidane pleaded not guilty to all charges and remained in jail in lieu of $10 million bail, according to jail records.

He is due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles on April 21, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to raise funds for the younger Thomas' widow to pay for funeral expenses.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe