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The family of a man killed by a Downey police officer in a car-on-pedestrian crash in October is suing the city of Downey and alleging that officials attempted to cover up a fatal hit-and-run.

Lavalle’s family says the Downey police officer knowingly fled the scene of the crash, while the city of Downey states that the officer was unaware a person had been hit.

County district attorney’s office declined to file criminal charges, concluding that the crash was a tragic accident, according to a statement provided by Downey.

The family alleges that the officer fled the scene without stopping to render aid, as is required by law, and that Downey then attempted to cover up the incident by failing to issue a news release or notify the family.

“This family was kept in the dark for many months about the circumstances of the death of their father from this department because they never contacted this family to let them know that a Downey Police Department officer, while on duty, struck, killed and left him there to die like a dog,” attorney Michael Carrillo said at a Tuesday news conference announcing the lawsuit.