A late-night drive turned deadly in Harvard Heights early Monday when a 49-year-old woman was killed in a multi-car collision that investigators say started with an allegedly impaired driver hitting one vehicle, then plowing into several more while fleeing. Authorities later identified the victim as Alverta Dunbar, and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined she died from blunt-force trauma.
What Happened
According to MyNewsLA, the Los Angeles Police Department said the crash sequence began around 12:40 a.m. A motorist allegedly rear-ended another car at West Gage Avenue and Vermont Avenue, then kept going west on Gage instead of stopping. Moments later, that same vehicle slammed into three more cars near Normandie Avenue.
One of those vehicles, described as a white car driven by Dunbar, took the brunt of the impact and suffered catastrophic damage. Dunbar died from her injuries at the scene, and the medical examiner later listed blunt-force trauma as the cause of death.
Investigation Under Way
Police told reporters the driver who set off the chain-reaction crash appears to have taken off after the collisions and may have been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, though it was not clear whether anyone had been arrested, according to La Opinión. The outlet also cited LAPD Officer Ayers, speaking through KTLA, who said the debris scattered throughout the intersection suggested speed likely played a role. Investigators are now combing through physical evidence and any available video to reconstruct exactly what happened.
Legal Implications
If detectives confirm that the driver fled after causing a crash that killed someone, California prosecutors could file felony hit-and-run charges under Vehicle Code 20001, which allows for prison time and fines when a collision results in serious injury or death. Should investigators also prove the driver was impaired, they could seek additional DUI-causing-injury charges under Vehicle Code 23153.
The LAPD's collision investigators are still piecing together the overnight timeline, and key questions remain about whether the suspected driver will be tracked down and charged. This story will be updated as the department or the county medical examiner releases more information.
