Authorities are stepping up efforts to find the driver behind a hit-and-run that left an elderly woman with severe injuries in North Hollywood. The incident happened on February 22, near the intersection of Basset Street and Coldwater Canyon Avenue. A light-colored pickup truck turned left and struck the woman, in her late 70s, at approximately 7:50 a.m., then sped away. KTLA reports surveillance footage showed the victim being hit, and a dog, seemingly in distress, ran into the street right after.
The Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department quickly responded to the scene. After failing to stop and provide aid, the truck driver continued southbound on Coldwater Canyon Avenue. The victim was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. The LAPD is calling on the public to aid in capturing the culprit. Hit-and-run victims are often left in a state of urgency, with their assailants disappearing into the anonymity of crowded city streets.
In a move to encourage community involvement, the City Council has enabled the Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund, which, as LAPD's official release states, offers " up to $25,000 is available to community members that provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise."
Those with any knowledge of the incident are encouraged to step forward. The LAPD has made it easier for witnesses to do this, even anonymously, if they feel the need. Anyone with details that could help can contact Investigator Reyes at 818-644-8114 during business hours. Outside those hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or through their website. And hoping people will provide tips that lead to the driver's apprehension, the "P3 Tips" mobile application has also been made available for concerned citizens.
