A pedestrian was killed Thursday evening in an apparent hit-and-run near Cedros Avenue and Hamlin Street in Van Nuys, and the driver was gone before officers arrived. Police say they are now searching for a possible suspect vehicle: a red, four-door Cadillac.
The collision happened around 6 p.m. near the intersection, according to Officer Miller of the Los Angeles Police Department's media relations division, as reported by KTLA. Authorities said the driver involved in the crash apparently fled the scene before officers could arrive, and investigators have not released a description of that driver.
The victim's identity, age and gender have not been disclosed, and police have not said whether the person died at the scene or was taken to a hospital. Details about what led up to the collision were not immediately available, and officers have not said whether anyone has been arrested in connection with the case. The investigation remains ongoing, per the same report.
A Second Fatal Van Nuys Hit-and-Run in Two Months
Thursday's crash marks the second deadly hit-and-run reported in Van Nuys in recent months. In September, a pedestrian was killed on Sherman Way, just west of Sherman Circle, around 3:45 a.m., according to the station's earlier report. Police said that victim was walking outside of a crosswalk when a driver struck and killed them, then fled without stopping to check on the person.
That September case remains unsolved, and on Oct. 15 the LAPD announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification or apprehension of the suspect driver, the outlet noted. It is not clear whether investigators believe the two Van Nuys cases are connected, and nothing in the available reporting ties them together beyond their shared location and outcome.
Van Nuys and the Citywide Hit-and-Run Toll
The two recent deaths add to a grim local tally. A report from Xtown citing LAPD Traffic Division data found that eight hit-and-run fatalities were recorded in the department's Van Nuys division between Jan. 1, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2024. Citywide, the same data showed 279 hit-and-run deaths across Los Angeles over that span.
Through Oct. 31, 2024, 83 people had died in hit-and-run collisions citywide, which was five fewer than the same point in 2023 but 18.6% above the comparable 2022 figure, Xtown reported. Those numbers reflect data only through 2024 and do not establish a current citywide trend for this year.
Anyone with information about Thursday's crash near Cedros Avenue and Hamlin Street, including sightings of a red, four-door Cadillac matching the description investigators are using, is encouraged to come forward as the investigation continues.
