A woman riding a mobility scooter was struck and left in the roadway early Sunday at the intersection of Slauson Avenue and South Figueroa Street in the Vermont-Slauson area of South Los Angeles. Emergency crews rushed her to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she later died, authorities said.
According to KTLA, the crash was logged at about 1:30 a.m., and video from the scene showed the motorized scooter sitting in the middle of the roadway after the impact. There was no immediate description of the vehicle or the driver, and Los Angeles Police Department detectives were investigating.
Police Seek Witnesses
The Los Angeles Police Department’s South Traffic Division is handling the investigation and has asked anyone with information to come forward, the department said. Tipsters can call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or reach South Traffic detectives during business hours. The city’s hit-and-run reward program may offer up to $50,000 for information that leads to identification and arrest, according to the department’s online newsroom, LAPD.
Slauson And Figueroa’s Dangerous Record
Traffic researchers and local newsrooms have repeatedly flagged the Slauson and Figueroa crossing as one of Los Angeles’ most hazardous intersections. A Crosstown analysis republished by LA Public Press counted 66 serious collisions at that corner over a recent four-year span, including 17 felony hit-and-runs and several pedestrian strikes. Safety advocates say the intersection’s proximity to a 110 Freeway off-ramp and high vehicle speeds help explain the concentrated danger.
Potential Criminal Charges
Fleeing the scene of a crash that injures or kills someone can be prosecuted as a felony under California Vehicle Code Section 20001. The statute requires drivers involved in collisions that cause injury or death to stop, render reasonable assistance, and provide identifying information. Penalties for violating the law can include prison time, according to California Legislative Information.
What Investigators Are Looking For
Detectives have urged neighbors, drivers, and anyone who was in the area around 1:30 a.m. to check phone, security, or dash-cam footage and report anything that might help identify the vehicle. Anyone with tips is asked to contact the LAPD South Traffic Division or submit an anonymous report to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers, as first reported by KTLA.
