Cross honors Warm Springs tribal elder killed in February hit-and-run as family continues search for answers

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A memorial cross now stands along Highway 26 near milepost 88 in Warm Springs, marking the place where tribal elder Mary Smith was killed in an unsolved hit-and-run earlier this year.

Mary’s family shared a photo of the memorial with KTVZ News. They hope the cross will keep her story visible and remind anyone with information that investigators are still searching for answers.

Authorities say Mary was struck on Highway 26 sometime between midnight and 12:25 a.m. on February 10th. The driver left the scene, and the case remains unsolved.

KTVZ News spoke with Mary’s granddaughter, Maria Gutierrez, following her death. Gutierrez described her grandmother as much more than a victim and said her family is determined to preserve her legacy while continuing to seek justice.

“I don’t want her to be remembered as just someone lying in the middle of a highway,” Gutierrez said. “She was so much more than that, and she deserves a voice. We are her voice.”

Anyone who witnessed something that night or has information that could help investigators is urged to submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov⁠.

Mary’s family says even a detail that may seem insignificant could help investigators determine what happened and bring Mary justice.