This isn’t the news anyone wanted to end our week with.
The LAPD is looking for a hit-and-run driver who killed a man riding a bicycle in the Florence neighborhood of South Los Angeles last night.
The victim, identified only as an adult male, was riding north on Wall Street at 61st Street when he was run down by the driver of a westbound panel van around 11 pm Thursday.
He died at the scene.
The driver continued without stopping, dragging the victim around 30 feet underneath the van. Police say he had to have felt the impact and known he’d hit something.
The crash, which was caught on security cam, took place on a quiet residential intersection controlled only by two-way stop signs on Wall. KCBS-2 suggests the victim may have run the stop sign, though that is unclear at this time.
Police are looking for a white commercial panel van with a roof rack and conduit carrier, possibly a 1996 to 2022 GMC Savana or Chevrolet Express, with likely front end damage.
Investigators speculate the driver may be a plumber or construction worker who lives in the area.
Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Officer Alex Guizar, Central Traffic Detectives, at 213/833-3713 or email 39761@lapd.online, or call the Central Traffic Division Watch Commander at 213/833-3746.
As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.
This is at least the 69th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 21st that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the 11th in the City of Los Angeles.
Twenty-two of those SoCal deaths have been hit-and-runs.
Update: The victim has been identified as 72-year old James Ledford.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for James Ledford and all his loved ones.
“FATAL INJURY FELONY HIT-AND-RUN IN NEWTON DIVISION” https://t.co/bF88GyiDMg via @YouTube @KCBSKCALDesk @nbcla @KTLAnewsdesk @abc7 @foxla @telemundo52 @Noticias62TV @desk_34 @bikinginla @LAPDHQ @LAPDNewton @Dongrahamjr @LabradaAl @TrafficRacing @LapdTrfg @knxnews @knxpete pic.twitter.com/kFemxkWQCu
— LAPDCTD (@LAPDCTD24) September 30, 2022
