Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a pedestrian in Los Angeles’ Historic South-Central neighborhood early Tuesday morning.
The crash was reported shortly before 3 a.m. near San Pedro Street and East 20th Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson who confirmed the incident to KTLA.
When officers arrived, they found a pedestrian lying unresponsive in the roadway. The man, identified only as 45 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver involved in the collision did not remain at the location, and investigators are now working to determine the circumstances of the crash and identify the vehicle and person responsible.
What Happened
Los Angeles police responded to the intersection of San Pedro Street and East 20th Street after receiving reports of a traffic collision shortly before 3 a.m.
Officers discovered the pedestrian in the roadway when they arrived. Despite the emergency response, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim's identity has not been publicly released in the information provided by police.
Video from the scene showed investigators working around the area while a canopy had been set up near the sidewalk. The presence of the investigative equipment indicated that authorities were documenting the scene and gathering information about the fatal collision.
According to the information released to KTLA, the vehicle involved had already left the area before officers arrived.
Police did not immediately provide a description of the vehicle or driver.
What Authorities Are Investigating
The incident is being investigated as a fatal hit-and-run.
Investigators will likely examine the roadway, available evidence and any information provided by witnesses as they attempt to establish how the pedestrian was struck and determine the direction the vehicle traveled after the collision.
Because the driver left before police arrived, investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or seen a damaged vehicle in the area around the time of the incident to come forward.
Authorities have not announced whether surveillance footage from nearby businesses or residences has identified the vehicle.
The absence of an immediate vehicle description means investigators may rely heavily on witness accounts, surveillance footage and physical evidence collected at the scene.
The Scene
The crash occurred in the Historic South-Central neighborhood of Los Angeles, near the intersection of San Pedro Street and East 20th Street.
San Pedro Street was closed between Washington Boulevard and 21st Street while investigators processed the scene.
Road closures are commonly used during serious traffic investigations to give officers room to document evidence and reconstruct the circumstances of a collision.
Drivers traveling through the area were asked to use alternate routes while the investigation was underway.
The closure also temporarily affected local traffic near the crash site as investigators worked to complete their examination of the roadway.
What We Know About the Victim
Police identified the victim only as a 45-year-old man in the information released about the crash.
He was found unresponsive in the roadway after officers responded to the reported collision.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released additional details about his identity or whether he was known to anyone in the surrounding area.
The victim's family has not been publicly identified in the available information.
What We Know About the Driver
At this time, authorities have not released a description of the driver.
Police also have not provided a make, model, color or license plate number for the vehicle believed to have struck the pedestrian.
That information could change as investigators review evidence and receive additional information from witnesses.
Anyone who was driving through the area around the time of the collision may have information that could help investigators identify the vehicle.
A Cautious View
While authorities are treating the incident as a hit-and-run, the publicly available information does not yet establish exactly how the collision occurred or why the driver left the scene. No vehicle description has been released, and investigators have not publicly detailed the evidence they have collected. Until additional evidence is reviewed, details about the driver's actions, speed, direction of travel or circumstances immediately before the crash remain unknown.
That uncertainty is important because witnesses may have seen only part of the incident, while investigators still need to determine the sequence of events leading to the pedestrian's death.
Why Witnesses May Be Important
Investigators are seeking information that could help identify the vehicle and driver.
People who were in the area shortly before or after the collision may have seen a vehicle leaving the scene, noticed damage to a car or witnessed the pedestrian in the roadway.
Nearby businesses, residences and vehicles may also have surveillance systems that captured portions of the incident or the vehicle's movements.
Even information that may initially appear insignificant could potentially help investigators establish a timeline or identify a vehicle.
What Happens Next
Police are expected to continue investigating the fatal collision and searching for the driver involved.
Investigators may review physical evidence from the roadway, surveillance footage and witness statements as they attempt to reconstruct the crash.
The vehicle description and additional information about the incident could be released if detectives develop new leads.
Authorities have not announced an arrest in connection with the collision.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators is encouraged to contact L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Tipsters may provide information that could help police identify the driver and determine what happened before and after the fatal collision.
What We Still Don't Know
- The identity of the 45-year-old victim.
- The make, model, color or license plate number of the vehicle involved.
- The identity of the driver.
- How fast the vehicle was traveling when the pedestrian was struck.
- Why the driver left the scene.
- Whether surveillance footage captured the collision or the vehicle fleeing the area.
- Whether police have identified any witnesses to the crash.
- Whether an arrest will be made in connection with the fatal hit-and-run.
For now, investigators are asking anyone with information about the crash to come forward. The fatal collision remains under investigation, and authorities are working to identify the driver who left the scene.