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Father seeks justice after daughter’s death

Posted at 11:58 PM, Jun 06, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-07 13:54:24-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - “Every morning it`s the first thing I think of, and I would say I cry eight to 10 times a day,” said Jim Lengyel.

Lost in thought, and empty in grief, Lengyel is still trying to cope with his daughter's unexpected death. 

“I run through my head there`s nothing I can do about it. She`s gone, “ he said.

18 year-old Kara Rivers-Lengyel died last Tuesday after being hit by a car on Patterson Avenue on her way home from a friend's house. Police say 33 year-old Reginold Addo hit her, and never stopped.

He was arrested an hour later.

Lengyel got the call around 2 a.m. He says he couldn't even force himself to go the hospital.

“I didn`t want to see her body,” said Lengyel.

He wanted to remember Kara as she was: fun, independent, passionate about giraffes, swimming, art and her older sister, Eva.

Lengyel says Kara was close to buying her own car with the money she had saved.

“A strong determination and one of the most stubborn people I ever met, but that stubbornness translated into a lot of drive and passion to get something done,” he said.

Now, Lengyel  has that same determination to make sure Addo stays in jail.

He's scheduled for a bond hearing Thursday.

“I think that anyone can hit someone and kill someone instantly from the back and throw her 113 feet and keep on driving, as a society we don`t want people like that on the road,” he said.

Lengyle's not sure if he'll be allowed to speak in court, but vows to be heard.

“I think I`m going to shout something out just to show that I`m angry and this isn`t fair,” he said.

Addo is charged with felony hit and run, and driving with a suspended license.

CBS 6 did some digging on Addo and found he has a criminal past. He’s been convicted on drug charge and driving without a license among other things.