A driver and passenger abandoned their car and ran off on foot Tuesday night after striking two pedestrians on South Los Angeles's 10th Street, killing one at the scene and sending the other to the hospital. The Los Angeles Police Department is now searching for both occupants of the vehicle involved.
Crash Reported Just After 9:30 PM
The collision happened in the 5900 block of 10th Street and was reported at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to NBC Los Angeles. One pedestrian died at the scene, while the second was hospitalized, though the extent of that person's injuries has not been made available. The ages and genders of both victims have also not been released.
A witness who heard the impact described a woman jumping out of the driver's seat and a man jumping out of the passenger seat before the pair ran away from the crash. That account corroborated details LAPD had already gathered, and the department has confirmed the vehicle's occupants included one man and one woman. No detailed description of the vehicle or its occupants has been released.
Other Fatal Hit-and-Runs in South LA
Hoodline has tracked fatal hit-and-runs in South Los Angeles, including incidents on South Vermont Avenue and near Colden Avenue earlier this summer. One driver fled after fatally striking a man using a walker on South Vermont Avenue at West 83rd Street; a separate hit-and-run killed a man near San Pedro Street and Colden Avenue.
The wider numbers help explain why these cases keep piling up. LAPD data reported by LAist shows traffic collisions killed 290 people citywide in 2025, more than 150 of them pedestrians, marking the third straight year that traffic deaths outpaced homicides in Los Angeles. The city missed its own 2015 Vision Zero pledge to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025, even after investing nearly $350 million as part of Vision Zero, most of which supported corridor safety through infrastructure projects, public outreach, and speed surveys, per the same report.
Reward Money and Legal Stakes for the Suspects
Under the city's Hit and Run Reward Program Trust Fund, established by the City Council in 2015, Los Angeles offers a standing reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of a driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run, according to LAPD Online. Tipsters who want to stay anonymous can also go through LA Regional Crime Stoppers, which offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Whoever was behind the wheel faces serious legal exposure regardless of who caused the initial collision. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 requires any driver involved in an injury or fatal crash to stop, exchange information and render aid. A violation can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, and fault for the crash does not by itself excuse fleeing, according to Keglawyers. Under Section 20001(a), felony penalties include up to four years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000; misdemeanor penalties include up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000, per the Shouse Law Group.
NBC4 broadcast footage of the 10th Street crash scene during its 11 p.m. newscast Tuesday. The LAPD is investigating.
