A pedestrian was killed after being struck by two vehicles, including one driver who fled the scene, in the Willowbrook area of Los Angeles late Sunday night.
The hit-and-run crash occurred shortly before 10 p.m. near the 1300 block of Imperial Highway, according to a Los Angeles Police Department news release.
Investigators said the victim was crossing Imperial Highway when they were first struck by a light-colored SUV traveling eastbound.
The driver did not stop to identify themselves or render aid and fled the scene. Police did not provide any additional description of the vehicle or driver.
While the victim was lying in the roadway, a second vehicle traveling westbound on Imperial Highway struck and ran over the pedestrian.
“The driver of the second vehicle immediately pulled over, remained at the scene, and summoned emergency assistance,” police said.
The victim, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to investigators, the deadly sequence began when the pedestrian was crossing Imperial Highway and was struck by a light-colored SUV traveling eastbound.
Instead of stopping, the first driver left the area without identifying themselves or providing assistance. The victim remained in the roadway when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction.
The second vehicle then struck and ran over the pedestrian. Unlike the first driver, however, the second driver stopped after the collision and contacted emergency responders.
Police emphasized that the second driver remained at the scene and cooperated by summoning help.
“The driver of the second vehicle immediately pulled over,” the LAPD said, adding that the driver “remained at the scene” and summoned emergency assistance.
The victim was pronounced dead at the location. Authorities have not publicly released the victim’s name while investigators work to notify the person’s next of kin.
The circumstances surrounding the pedestrian’s position in the roadway, including what happened immediately before the first collision, remain under investigation.
WHY IT MATTERS
The case highlights the devastating consequences that can follow a hit-and-run collision, particularly when an injured pedestrian remains in an active traffic lane.
The first driver is now the focus of the investigation because police say that vehicle struck the pedestrian and then fled. Investigators have not released a description detailed enough to identify the SUV publicly, leaving them dependent on witnesses, surveillance footage and other evidence that could help establish the vehicle’s identity.
The second collision adds another complicated element to the investigation. Police said the second driver stopped and requested emergency assistance, a response that authorities are treating differently from the first driver's decision to leave.
LAPD is asking anyone who witnessed the crash, saw the vehicles in the area or may have information about the first driver to contact detectives.
“The driver of the second vehicle” remained at the scene, according to police, while the driver of the first vehicle remains unidentified.
The Hit-and-Run Investigation
South Traffic Division detectives are working to determine who was driving the light-colored SUV involved in the initial collision.
Police have not released the make, model or license plate information for the vehicle. Investigators also have not provided a description of the person behind the wheel.
That information could be critical as detectives attempt to identify the vehicle and determine where it went after leaving the crash scene.
Witnesses who were traveling along Imperial Highway around the time of the collision may have seen the SUV before or after the impact. Investigators may also be able to use surveillance cameras from nearby businesses, homes or roadways to reconstruct the vehicle’s movements.
The department is encouraging anyone with information to come forward, even if they believe their information may seem minor.
A Different Role for the Second Driver
The involvement of a second vehicle could create confusion for people who hear only that the pedestrian was struck twice.
According to police, however, the two drivers responded very differently after the collisions.
The first driver allegedly left the scene without identifying themselves or rendering aid. The second driver stopped, remained at the location and summoned emergency assistance.
That distinction is important because investigators are separately seeking information about the driver who fled while continuing to examine the circumstances of the second collision.
Police have not announced any arrest in connection with the first collision.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
Several important details remain unclear as the investigation continues.
It is not yet known why the pedestrian was in the roadway when the second vehicle approached, how quickly either vehicle was traveling or whether visibility, lighting or road conditions played a role.
Police have also not released information about whether the pedestrian was crossing at a marked location or whether a traffic signal was involved.
A skeptical view is also possible regarding the circumstances of the second collision. Because the second driver stopped and called for assistance, that does not by itself establish exactly what the driver saw or whether the pedestrian was visible in time to avoid the collision. Investigators will need to determine those circumstances through physical evidence, witness accounts and available video before drawing conclusions about responsibility.
Authorities have not publicly assigned fault to the second driver.
The $50,000 Reward
Police are offering a significant financial incentive for information that helps solve the hit-and-run.
A reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of the driver involved in the initial collision, or resolution through a civil compromise.
The reward could encourage witnesses who have information about the vehicle or driver to contact investigators.
Police are particularly interested in anyone who may have witnessed the first collision or seen a light-colored SUV leaving the area shortly afterward.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
South Traffic Division detectives will continue investigating the fatal crash and attempting to identify the driver who fled.
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has information about the hit-and-run vehicle to contact authorities.
The victim’s identity will remain withheld until relatives have been notified.
Meanwhile, police are expected to review available evidence and information from witnesses as they work to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to both impacts.
The second driver remained at the scene and summoned emergency assistance, while the first driver remains unidentified.
Anyone with information is urged to contact South Traffic Division Detective Cummings at 213-479-6416.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.