California Injury Blog
Los Angeles police are looking for the driver of a Mercedes-Benz sedan involved in a hit and run crash earlier this month, which left a 70-year-old woman critically injured. According to a KTLA news report, the major injury collision occurred in Chinatown on Sept. 4. The victim was crossing Broadway Street at College Street with the “walk” signal when a black Mercedes struck her catapulting her into the air before she landed on the ground. City Councilman Gil Cedillo’s office has announced a $25,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the driver’s identification, arrest and conviction.
Police Release Driver Description
Witnesses said they saw the driver pull over and get out of the car before driving away from the scene without helping the woman or identifying himself. The crash was caught on surveillance video. Police have released the image of the vehicles involved in the crash. The woman was admitted to an intensive care unit in critical condition. She suffered a brain bleed and a broken neck, clavicle and pelvis.
The victim’s daughter spoke during a press conference saying her mother did not deserve to be lying on the ground injured without getting any help. She pleaded with the hit-and-run driver to turn himself in. LAPD has also released a sketch of the man sought in this incident. Witnesses have described the driver as a Black man between 35 and 40 years of age, about 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with braids bleached at the tips and the number “1” tattooed on the left side of his face. The Mercedes was believed to be a C230 model from the years 2003 to 2006 with paper dealer plates. Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD at 213-486-0755.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the severely injured victim and her family. We wish her the best for a complete recovery.
Laws and Liability Issues
It is a felony crime under California law to leave the scene of an injury crash. Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) drivers are required to stop right away and remain at the scene of a crash until the authorities arrive. Often, in these types of cases, it is the victims and their families who are emotionally traumatized by the incident and saddled with mounting medical expenses.
At-fault drivers, in addition to being criminally charged, can also be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Victims or their families would be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles hit and run accident lawyer who can also advise them about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a case where a hit and run driver hasn’t been apprehended or where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/25000-reward-offered-as-lapd-seeks-chinatown-hit-and-run-driver-who-left-70-year-old-woman-in-critical-condition/