A late-night walk on Winnetka Avenue turned deadly Friday when a driver hit a man in his 30s and took off, Los Angeles police said.
The crash happened around 10 p.m. on Winnetka Avenue between Sherman Way and Gault Street, drawing emergency crews to the San Fernando Valley block. The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to police.
An LAPD spokesperson told ABC7 Los Angeles that the pedestrian was crossing outside a marked crosswalk when a southbound vehicle struck him. Investigators did not immediately release a description of the vehicle or the driver. They were working to confirm a witness report that a second vehicle may also have hit the man.
Investigators hunting for video and witnesses
This latest fatal hit-and-run adds to a grim tally in the Valley this year, as detectives once again turn to cameras and neighbors for help. In February, a Panorama City pedestrian left to die case prompted detectives to ask residents to share doorbell and dash-cam footage publicly.
Valley Traffic detectives frequently review surveillance and door-cam clips when working these kinds of cases, officials told reporters in that earlier investigation, and they are expected to do the same in the Winnetka probe.
Where this fits in Los Angeles' traffic toll
According to LADOT's 2023 annual report, there were 336 traffic fatalities citywide that year, and the department says it is continuing its Vision Zero push to tackle the High Injury Network where most severe crashes happen. To chip away at the numbers, transportation officials report installing quick-build safety treatments such as curb extensions, signal tweaks and speed humps to reduce deadly collisions on high-crash corridors.
Legal consequences for leaving the scene
Under California law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury or death is a serious crime. Vehicle Code 20001 provides for prison time and fines for drivers who fail to stop after a collision that results in death. The statutory penalties and exact legal language are available through California Legislative Information.
Valley Traffic Division detectives are still piecing together what happened on Winnetka Avenue. Anyone who was in the area Friday night, or who finds dash-cam or doorbell footage from around the time of the crash, is urged to preserve it and contact investigators. Earlier local appeals have specifically asked neighbors to check their surveillance clips after similar incidents in which a hit-and-run driver vanishes.
