Hit-and-run victim's husband unhappy with San Pedro case's conclusion

Eugene Pollack, whose wife, Joan, was struck as she crossed a San Pedro street on March 22, 1992, sent this letter to respond to the way the case is concluding. The crash killed his friends, Fred and Ezna Crescitelli of Westwood, who were walking with them.

The suspect, Cristian Herrera, who drove away, fled to Mexico and remained free for 16 years, was arrested in August following a Daily Breeze article on the case. He had returned to San Pedro.

On Wednesday, he pleaded no contest to the charges and will serve a 6-year suspended prison sentence, and 365 days in jail. He's already served enough time in jail to get out. He will then be deported.

Here's what Dr. Pollack, a Rancho Palos Verdes resident had to say:

"The only people satisfied with the outcome, a slap on the wrist, are Mr.Herrera, his attorney, the police, the District Attorney and the judge. Mr. Herrera no longer has to worry about being brought to justice, his attorney essentially got him off, the police did their job and caught him, the DA won(?), the judge didn"t have to think.

The case is over and the book is closed. The people not satisfied are those who knew and loved the victims and the public. For the lesson here, is that if a criminal can evade capture long enough, there is little or no punishment. That cannot be good for a safe and orderly society."