Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help in finding a driver who allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian in Chatsworth before leaving the scene early Sunday morning.
The victim, a man in his 60s, was walking in a crosswalk near De Soto Avenue and Lassen Street when he was hit by a dark-colored SUV around 12:30 a.m., according to investigators. Police believe the vehicle may have been a black BMW.
Despite briefly stopping near the curb just south of Lassen Street, the driver allegedly continued southbound without identifying themselves or providing assistance.
The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Authorities have not released his identity, pending notification of his next of kin.
Investigators are now working to identify the driver and establish what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
Driver Reportedly Stopped Before Leaving the Scene
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the SUV stopped momentarily along the curb after striking the pedestrian. The driver then left the area without remaining at the scene.
California law requires drivers involved in a collision resulting in injury or death to stop, provide identifying information and fulfill their legal responsibilities, including rendering reasonable assistance when necessary.
Leaving after a fatal crash can make an already difficult investigation more challenging. Detectives may need to rely on witness accounts, surveillance footage, vehicle descriptions and physical evidence to identify the driver and reconstruct the incident.
Police have not publicly identified a suspect, and the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation.
Up to $50,000 Reward Offered
To encourage people to come forward, a reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
The reward is offered through the Los Angeles Administrative Code’s Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund. The maximum amount is intended to encourage tips that help investigators bring cases involving serious or fatal hit-and-run collisions to a resolution.
Detectives are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was near De Soto Avenue and Lassen Street around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. People who saw the SUV before or after the crash, witnessed the collision, or may have relevant video footage could potentially help move the investigation forward.
Even a small detail, such as the vehicle’s direction of travel, damage to its exterior or the driver’s actions after the collision, could assist investigators.
How to Contact Investigators
Anyone with information about the fatal crash is urged to contact the LAPD Valley Traffic Division at 818-644-8117 or 818-644-8114.
People who were traveling through the area at the time may also want to check whether their dashcams captured the intersection or nearby streets.
For now, the victim’s identity remains undisclosed, and police continue searching for the driver.
Investigators are asking anyone with relevant information to come forward as they work to identify the person responsible and determine the full circumstances of the deadly collision.
