Sentencing for man involved in Newark hit and run

The family of a Newark woman who was killed during a vehicular hit and run finally have closure.

The man accused of fatally hitting 76-year-old Helen Yang as she was crossing the street on April 30, 2012 in Newark was sentenced to the maximum of 5 years in prison this afternoon.

It took police a year to positively I.D. 26-year-old Ryan Wroten as the man behind the wheel.

Wroten said he drove away from the scene that fateful day because he was afraid of the consequences.

However, detectives were able to match pieces left behind at the crime scene to Wroten’s car. He was caught and pleaded guilty in April of 2013.

Yang’s daughter, Yang Pan said she’s satisfied with the outcome of the sentencing.

“We’ve come to a stage where we know who did it and the consequence of that action so we’re very relieved from the family prospective,” said Pan. “Of course, nothing will bring my mother back, it’s very emotional when I was there reading the victim impact statement. I look at the defendant and he’s there, sitting there while my mother is not there, she’s dead.”

The 76-year-old woman was a cherished mother, grandmother and wife of 50 years.

“No matter how long he’s in the prison, nothing can bring my mom back,” said Ping Yang, the son of the victim. “And my Dad forever lost his soul mate of 50 years of marriage so this is very hard for our family.”

During sentencing, Wroten apologized to the family and said it’s a regret he’ll live with for the rest of his life.