PHOENIX — Phoenix police are still searching for the driver who hit and killed a man while he was crossing the street then fled the scene, leaving the victim in the road.
37-year-old Matthew Argentino lost his life as a result of the crash and his loved ones still cannot make sense of what happened.
“We're still really in the denial phase right now. We're stuck on that phase just because it was just such a shock how he passed," said Diane Argentino, Matthew's mom.
Diane and her partner Karen were joined by dozens of family and friends Tuesday night at Trattoria Arrivederci in Ahwatukee for a memorial gathering to honor Matthew's life.
“We were really, really close. We had a special bond," Argentino said.
Matthew was described as a funny and sarcastic 37-year-old with a love for history. He worked as a massage therapist and an esthetician. He was a person who cared for others and is now missed by so many.
No closure or accountability after hit-and-run crash
The crash happened around 8:40 p.m. on Sept. 20. Matthew was crossing the street near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road when a driver hit him. Instead of stopping to help, police said the driver fled and left Matthew behind. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Somehow making his death even more horrific, his mom heard it happen in a voicemail.
“He actually had texted me ten minutes before the accident and his phone must have butt dialed me and on the answering machine, there's, I could hear the car rev up and the impact. So it's been really difficult," Argentino said. "The police notified me that night around 10:30 p.m. and they called me and told me and he didn't survive on the scene. They tried to resuscitate him, but he passed right there.”
There is no closure or accountability.
It's why police are asking the public to keep an eye out for the car involved. It's a faded grey 2006 Infinity M35 with loud exhaust and significant damage on the front end and headlights.
Silent Witness is offering a reward for information in the case. Please call 480-WITNESS if you know anything about what happened to Matthew.
“He was a good kid. He didn't serve this and I want them found. They need to be found," said Karen Scirghio, Argentino's partner.
“Just come forward. Just come forward and take responsibility for what you did because I don't know how they could sleep at night," Argentino said.
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