California Injury Blog
Los Angeles city officials are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for hit-and-run that killed 27-year-old Korina Campos and severely injured her 5-year-old daughter. According to a KTLA news report, the fatal hit-and-run occurred the afternoon of January 30, 2016 near Boyle Avenue and Whittle Boulevard.
Driver Flees on Foot
Campos took her daughter out of the backseat when they were struck. Campos was thrown about 40 feet from the point of impact and died from her injuries. The 5-year-old girl suffered a fractured pelvis, but is expected to survive. Surveillance video of the incident shows a vehicle driving along the curving roadway when it struck Campos’s car and spun out.
The driver lost control of the vehicle, a 2001 Toyota Corolla, before striking the mother and the girl. Officials believe the suspect may have suffered an abdominal injury and may have been bleeding at the scene. When witnesses tried to stop him, he pretended to have a gun in his waistband and fled on foot. He was described as being Hispanic, 30 to 35 years old with tattoos on both forearms, wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Korina Campos for their tragic loss, especially her young daughter. Let us keep this family in our thoughts and prayers.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
Based on this news report, it appears that that driver of the Toyota Corolla lost control of his vehicle at the curve and struck the mother and daughter. Even though this might have been an accident, when a driver leaves the scene of an injury or fatal crash, he could be charged with a felony crime.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a), motorists are required to stop immediately at the scene of a crash, remain until officials arrive, exchange pertinent information with others involved and most importantly, attempt to help the injured. In this case, the driver struck and fatally injured a young mother, seriously injured a young girl, and fled the scene without even stopping to check on the victims. Despicable!
Holding Drivers Accountable
If you have any information about the suspect in this case, please visit our dedicated Hit-and-Run Reward website at hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible for a $1,000 reward. We certainly hope this driver is identified, apprehended and brought to justice.
Families of deceased victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney who has experience when it comes to successfully handling hit-and-run cases. A knowledgeable lawyer will also be able to advise victims and their families about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run case where the driver has not been apprehended or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.