A man in his 50s was struck and killed early Thursday in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South Los Angeles, and the driver took off before police got there, investigators said.
The deadly collision happened near Manchester Avenue and Vermont Avenue at about 12:50 a.m. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver never stopped to help. Officers responded after multiple 911 calls reported the crash.
Los Angeles Police Department detectives told KTLA that the driver fled before officers arrived. Video from the scene showed officers photographing clothing believed to belong to the victim along with debris thought to have come from the suspect’s vehicle. As of Thursday morning, the LAPD said no suspect description or vehicle information had been released.
Investigation Underway
Detectives from the LAPD’s South Traffic Division spent the early morning canvassing the neighborhood, collecting surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses in an effort to identify the vehicle and driver involved.
As one LAPD spokesperson told KTLA, “the driver fled the area before officers arrived.” Investigators have not said whether drugs, alcohol, or speed played a role in the crash, and no arrests had been announced.
What The Law Says
Under California law, leaving the scene of a crash that injures or kills someone can be prosecuted as a felony. California Legislature records for Vehicle Code §20001 require drivers involved in accidents that cause injury or death to stop, provide identification, and render aid. Violating the statute can bring prison time and heavy fines. Prosecutors may seek additional charges or sentence enhancements depending on the circumstances, and investigators said no arrests had been announced in this case.
How Neighbors Can Help
Detectives are urging anyone who saw the collision, or who has home or business surveillance cameras facing the street near Manchester and Vermont, to contact the LAPD’s South Traffic Division. Officers say community video often helps them pinpoint vehicles and suspects in hit-and-run cases.
National safety groups note that hit-and-run crashes remain a stubborn threat for people on foot, even as overall traffic deaths have shifted in recent years, according to the GHSA. Detectives continue to seek tips and, so far, have not released any description of the driver or the vehicle involved.
