California Injury Blog
Los Angeles Police Department officials are asking for the public’s help finding the driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that left an 85-year-old woman dead. According to a KTLA news report, the incident occurred the evening of Dec. 27 when the victim was walking on Lankershim Boulevard in a marked crosswalk. The driver was traveling east on Moorpark Street in a newer-model four-door sedan when he or she made a right turn into Lankershim striking the pedestrian.
Officials Offer Reward
The driver did not stop and continued on Lankershim, police said. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and transported the victim to a hospital where she died. Officials have announced a $50,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the driver’s identification, arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD at 818-644-8255 or 818-644-8000.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family members of this elderly woman for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
LA Hit and Run Crashes
According to a report on Curbed.com, there were more than 100,000 hit-and-run cases in the city of Los Angeles from 2014 to 2018. Of those, 23,698 were felony hit-and-run cases, which means someone was hurt in the crash. Fewer than 16,000 drivers were arrested during that four-year time span and only 715 of them on suspicion of felony crimes. In 2018 alone, 54 people were killed in hit-and-run collisions in Los Angeles. In 2016, an NBC Los Angeles investigation suggested that as many as 50 percent of collisions in Los Angeles County are hit-and-run incidents.
Laws and Liability Issues
Leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a). At the minimum, the law requires drivers to stop, remain at the scene, exchange information with other parties involved and get help for the injured victims. But, many drivers even fail to show this basic human decency, and end up fleeing the scene.
If you are the victim of a hit-and-run crash or if you have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run collision, please remember that you have legal rights. An experienced Los Angeles hit and run lawyer can remain on top of the official investigation and make sure that your best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advice victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash where the driver has not been found or where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/driver-sought-in-toluca-lake-hit-and-run-crash-that-killed-85-year-old-woman/