California Injury Blog
South Los Angeles neighborhoods were the sites of two fatal hit-and-run crashes over the weekend. According to KTLA, the most recent accident occurred early morning on Oct. 6 when a vehicle traveling southbound along Figueroa Street in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood slammed into Wardell Nelson, Jr. a 61-year-old Los Angeles man, as he was walking across the street.
Two Fatal Crashes
Nelson was crossing eastbound Manchester Boulevard at Figueroa Street on the south side crosswalk. When he was lying in the street, Nelson was struck a second time by a silver Chevy Traverse while the other vehicle fled the area. The Chevy remained at the scene. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was killed just two days after a 61-year-old woman was hit by a vehicle that also fled over a mile away in the neighboring area of Vermont Vista.
The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for the drivers involved in both hit-and-run crashes. As with all hit-and-run crashes within the city limits, a reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of the drivers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD at 323-421-2500.
We offer our deepest condolences to the families of these two victims. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash
It is illegal under California law to leave the scene of an injury or fatal crash, regardless of whose fault the accident was. In both of these cases, it appears that the pedestrians were crossing the street in a crosswalk when they were struck and fatally injured. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) requires motorists to stop and remain at the scene of the accident, exchange pertinent information with other parties involved in the collision and most importantly, render aid to the injured victims.
If you have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident, it is important that you contact an experienced Los Angeles hit and run lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can also advise victims and their families about how the uninsured motorist clause of their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash where the driver has not been apprehended or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://ktla.com/2019/10/06/crash-kills-pedestrian-61-2-days-after-another-deadly-hit-and-run-in-south-l-a/