A late-night walk in Van Nuys turned deadly Monday when a pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver who took off instead of stopping, according to Los Angeles police. The collision happened shortly after 10:05 p.m. at the packed intersection of Sherman Way and Sepulveda Boulevard, just steps from a McDonald’s, where first responders found the victim dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the person’s identity.
Where it happened
According to CBS Los Angeles, officers got the call at about 10:05 p.m. and arrived to find a pedestrian who had been hit. Detectives with the LAPD Valley Traffic Division have launched an investigation, and the outlet reported that no details were immediately available on the suspect or the vehicle involved. Aerial footage showed a wide stretch of the intersection wrapped in police tape, with a white canopy set up near the McDonald’s.
Police response and how to help
Detectives from the Valley Traffic Division are handling the case and are urging anyone who saw anything or who has surveillance or dashcam video to come forward. Per the Los Angeles Police Department, tipsters can contact Valley Traffic or call the department’s 24/7 line at 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers. The LAPD notes that its hit-and-run reward program has provided rewards in previous cases that helped lead to suspect identifications.
Intersection has a worrying record
The Sherman Way and Sepulveda Boulevard corridor is one of the San Fernando Valley’s busiest crossings and has long had a reputation as a crash hot spot. A CBS Los Angeles analysis previously found that the intersection logged dozens of collisions in a single year, placing it among the most dangerous in the city.
What the law says
Under California law, a driver who leaves the scene after causing injury or death can be charged under Vehicle Code §20001, which can be prosecuted as a felony. The statute requires drivers involved in collisions that injure or kill someone to stop at the scene and provide aid, and penalties can include a state prison sentence, according to the California Vehicle Code §20001.
