‘We now have to relive it’: Hit-and-run crash victim’s family speaks after awaiting suspect’s arrest for 15 years

INDIANAPOLIS — After 15 years on the run and an FBI investigation, the suspect implicated a deadly 2010 crash is now behind bars in Indiana. The crash victim’s family is experiencing a mix of relief and heartache, having had to relive the loss all over again.

Megan Ratliff, a 16-year-old, was killed at the intersection of Shelby Street and Madison Avenue on the night of Nov. 27, 2010. While the suspect managed to evade police for over a decade, Ratliff’s family has waited for justice they feared may never be served.

“She was the light in a dark day,” said Sara Ratliff, Megan’s sister.

“Megan was happy,” said Christy Ratliff, Megan’s mother. “She was just a character. She was just really funny.”

After this long, the Ratliffs not only ache for missed proms or graduations. They wonder what Megan’s life would look like today if she were given the chance to keep it.

“Would she have kids? Would she be married or engaged or anything? The fact that she never got to meet my kids,” Sara said.

Megan’s mother and three sisters told FOX59/CBS4 that, after Israel Espinosa took off running that night in 2010, they believed the law might never catch up with him. Court documents indicate Espinosa slammed into the back of Ratliff’s car at a stoplight, causing it to flip over.

“She exited out of my window,” said Kayla Ratliff, Megan’s sister. “I never lost consciousness, so I saw that.”

Kayla, who is just two years older than Megan, was driving.

“When the vehicle landed, and I was hanging from the seatbelt, and I looked up out of the window, the only person I could see was him looking at what he had done,” Kayla said.

According to the FBI, Espinosa re-entered the United States illegally after he was once deported. Agents tracked him to Oklahoma City last month, and he’s now in police custody in Marion County, where he faces reckless homicide, failure to stop after a crash and driving without a license charges.

“We now have to relive it, all the emotions,” said Christy. “And it’s very confusing emotionally.”

Almost as many years as Megan spent alive have now passed. Yet through their grief, her family expresses empathy for Espinosa too.

“I mean, he was just a young person, and it could’ve just been a mistake,” said Brittany Ratliff, Megan’s sister. “But then again, you went 15 years and you were just able to sleep every night after taking someone. You didn’t help. You did nothing.”

As they wait for some semblance of peace, Ratliff’s family members want their story to serve as a reminder of the dangers of impaired driving. Police said investigators found beer spilled throughout Espinosa’s car among open and empty bottles the night of the crash.

“No one should ever have to feel what we feel because someone made a selfish choice,” Sara said.

Israel Espinosa is due in court for a hearing Tuesday afternoon.