Police Looking for Driver Who Ran Red Light and Fatally Injured Two Teens in Palmdale

Police are continuing their search for a hit-and-run driver who they said crashed into a car killing two teens in an unincorporated part of Palmdale the night of Jan. 30. According to a KTLA news report, the two males, ages 17 and 18, were in a 2018 Honda Civic when a car ran a red light and slammed into their vehicle at the intersection of Avenue O-8 and 10th Street West.

Fatal Hit and Run

Both victims died at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, a 2015 Chrysler 200, fled the scene of the crash before Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrived. The two teens were driving back from a car meet-up when the crash occurred. Officials are still looking for the driver who is at large. No further descriptions of the hit-and-run driver are available. Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to call the sheriff’s Palmdale Station at 661-272-2400.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the two teens who were killed in this tragic crash. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Laws and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, officials say the driver of the Chrysler not only ran a red light and struck the Honda sedan in which the teens were traveling, but left the scene without even stopping to render aid to the victims. California Vehicle Code section 21453 (a) states: “A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.” It is also illegal to leave the scene of an injury or fatal accident under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a).

In such cases, families of deceased victims would be well advised to seek the counsel of an experienced Los Angeles hit and run lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise victims and their families about how their own auto insurance policies may apply to hit and run case where the driver has not been apprehended or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/lasd-searches-for-driver-who-ran-red-light-killed-2-teens-in-palmdale-area-hit-and-run-crash/