A tragedy unfolded on a Santa Monica street late Friday night when a vehicle engaged in a brutal hit-and-run incident that left two people dead and another two injured; the driver, who is yet to be apprehended, fled the scene, according to KTLA. The crash took place around 9:15 p.m. on Wilshire Boulevard between 14th and Euclid streets, with the vehicle involved—a Dodge Charger—coming to a stop against a tree on the sidewalk after hitting the pedestrians.
While initially only one death was reported, a Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) official later confirmed to KTLA that a second person had succumbed to their injuries at the scene; one of the injured was in "possibly critical condition," but SMPD has not provided details on the status of the fourth victim while leaving the possibility open, that impairment might have been a factor in this tragedy, the report stated.
NBC Los Angeles shared that the hit-and-run is being scrutinized as a felony by the Santa Monica PD, with nothing at present suggesting it was intentional, though they have not dismissed the notion either. The stretch of Wilshire Boulevard where the incident occurred was temporarily closed off as investigators processed the accident site, with Santa Monica PD acknowledging the community's concern in a statement and emphasizing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
In a bid to advance the case, details about the suspect have surfaced, with the Santa Monica Police Department describing the individual on Instagram as a Black male, approximately 6 feet tall, last seen wearing a red hat, a black sweater, and black shoes and they urge public cooperation, appealing for witnesses who may have seen the collision or the suspect fleeing to contact them with any potentially enlightening information. Interim Chief Darrick Jacob expressed the department's dedication to finding the suspect, stating, "Our investigators are working tirelessly to identify and locate the suspect responsible, and our hearts are with the families of the victims who are experiencing unimaginable loss."
