An elderly man is left with severe injuries following a hit-and-run incident in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles, as reported by KTLA. The Los Angeles Police Department disclosed that on January 3, at approximately 1:20 a.m., a man in his 70s was struck by a small, light-colored sedan while crossing the street at Rosemead Avenue on a marked crosswalk. The incident took place near the intersection of Rosemead Avenue and Huntington Drive.
The driver involved in the collision did not stop to assist the pedestrian or comply with legal obligations, fleeing the scene eastbound on Huntington Drive instead. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and swiftly transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of his severe injuries. As emphasized in a statement obtained by LAPD's Official News and Information Blog, "Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves."
The Los Angeles Police Department and the local community are now seeking help to identify the driver responsible for the hit-and-run. A reward of up to $25,000, facilitated by the City Council's amendment of the Los Angeles Administrative Code in 2015, stands as an incentive for information that leads to the suspect's identification, arrest, and conviction. The details of this reward program were shared on both KTLA and the LAPD’s Central Traffic Division announcements.
The public is also reminded to engage in safe practices when navigating the streets. "The public is also reminded that as pedestrians, they should exercise caution when crossing streets, obey traffic lights, cross within marked crosswalks, and obey the rules of the road." Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run crash is encouraged to reach out to Officer Herrera at LAPD’s Central Traffic Division or call the LAPD's anonymous tip line, as reported by KTLA.
