LAPD traffic detectives are again asking downtown Los Angeles residents and late-night commuters for help finding a hit-and-run driver who seriously injured a man in his 20s on Jan. 9. The collision happened around 2:40 a.m. on E. Eighth Street, according to police, as the man was crossing the roadway. The driver took off heading west on Eighth toward Bixel Street and has not been tracked down.
What the police say
According to an LAPD news release reported by CBS Los Angeles, paramedics rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for severe injuries. His name has not been released publicly. Detectives with the Central Traffic Division say they are combing through surveillance footage and going door to door with businesses along the Eighth Street corridor, hoping for witnesses or usable video of the early-morning crash.
Why did detectives renew the appeal?
Investigators say the trail of leads has been thin, which prompted a fresh call for public help and a reminder about the city’s hit-and-run reward program. The program can offer up to $25,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the driver, according to LAPD Online. Detectives stress that even a few seconds of dash-cam or security footage could be the missing piece.
How to help
Anyone who was in the E. Eighth Street and Bixel Street area around 2:40 a.m., or who has relevant dash-cam or building surveillance from that corridor, is urged to contact the LAPD Central Traffic Division at (213) 833-3713, according to CBS Los Angeles. Anonymous tips can be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or through the P3 Tips mobile app.
Legal consequences
Under California law, a driver who leaves the scene of a collision that causes injury can face felony charges under Vehicle Code Section 20001. The statute allows for prison time and fines that increase with the seriousness of the injuries. Legal guides note that prosecutors typically must show the driver knew someone was hurt and willfully chose not to stop and provide aid, a combination that can significantly raise the potential penalties.
Local context
Central Traffic Division detectives have issued several similar public appeals in recent hit-and-run cases, underscoring how heavily they rely on community video and witness accounts. LAPD bulletins earlier this month described other severe hit-and-run collisions under investigation, and separate coverage this week detailed a different downtown crash in the Flower District where an SUV jumped a curb and struck multiple pedestrians. Investigators say even partial license plate numbers or brief video clips can end up being crucial to breaking these cases open.
For now, detectives say any tip, no matter how small it may seem, could move this investigation forward. The case remains active and is being handled by the LAPD Central Traffic Division.
