North Hollywood Hit-and-Run Tragedy, Community Seeks Justice for Slain Runner Leyda Medina

The North Hollywood community is in mourning following the tragic death of 27-year-old Leyda Medina, who was struck by a hit-and-run driver while out for an evening run. According to a KTLA report, Medina was using a crosswalk at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Beck Avenue on Friday when she was hit by a Toyota Corolla. The car was later found abandoned, and the suspect, described as a white man in his 50s, had fled on foot.

The Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Detectives are actively investigating the incident which occurred on August 16, at around 7 p.m. A reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of the responsible driver, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The suspect's vehicle was discovered with a cracked windshield and front passenger side damage, indicative of the deadly collision.

Described as an avid runner training for a 5K marathon, Medina's husband, Kevin, expressed the couple's routine for safety that heartbreakingly failed that night. "Every time she leaves for a run, she always tells me to call her in an hour if I don’t hear from her," Kevin Medina recounted in an interview with KTLA. It was after this hour passed, and a call not returned, that the tragic circumstances unfolded, leading to the hospital staff informing him of his wife's fate.

Witnesses and anyone with information about the collision are being asked to contact Detective Ramirez at 818-644-8028 or Officer Ruiz at 818-644-8026. The LAPD also invites those wishing to remain anonymous to contact L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, as detailed in a LAPD PIO post. The Medina family, through their statement, implored the community to help them find closure by bringing the driver to justice. "She was a lover of all things Halloween, running and doing hair/make up. As her family grieves, they are seeking the community's help to identify the driver who was responsible for this senseless act," they shared with ABC7.

As the investigation continues and as Leyda's loved ones cope with their loss, the family has set up a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral expenses. They express a desire not for vengeance, but for closure and justice in the face of unbearable grief. "We don't want to hold any resentment or anger, we just want justice," Kevin Medina told KTLA. Anyone able to assist is encouraged to contribute or offer any information they may have related to the tragic event.