Woman Killed, Man Critically Hurt In Violent Hit-And-Run Wreck In North Hills
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – One woman was killed and a man was critically hurt in a violent hit-and-run crash involving a stolen SUV in the North Hills area of the San Fernando Valley early Tuesday morning.
The crash involving four vehicles was reported at about 5:30 a.m. in the 16500 block of West Nordhoff Street.
According to Los Angeles police, a black Range Rover was speeding south on Hayvenhurst Avenue when it ran a red light and slammed into a Honda Civic and two other vehicles.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to find the two occupants of the Civic trapped inside the car.
The driver of the Civic, a woman, died at the scene, police said. Her passenger, a man, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The driver of a white Toyota Camry was treated at the scene for pain, and the driver of a white Toyota Tacoma did not sustain any visible injuries, according to the LAPD. No names were released.
Los Angeles police report that two male suspects who were riding in the Range Rover ran from the scene and remain at large. Police discovered that the Range Rover had been reported stolen out of Glendale.
"We know there are two suspects in the Range Rover that appear to be male," LAPD Officer Aaron Ponce said. "They both fled from the scene. They appeared to go northbound, then down an alley, then back out onto the street."
Neighbor Erik Betts told CBSLA the intersection sees numerous collisions.
"I remember counting 39 accidents in one year," Betts said. "And I stopped counting, so I don't know how many actually took place."
Police released surveillance video of the wreck. The video shows that there was two men in the Range Rover. The passenger was seen walking away immediately, but the driver stayed to collect items, left, then came back for other things inside the vehicle before running off.
The driver was described as being between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-11, 160 to 170 pounds, and wore a blue jacket, blue jeans, black shoes, and a white cap. The passenger was described as being between 5-foot-11 and 6 feet tall, 190 to 200 pounds, and wore a dark track jacket, blue jeans, and black shoes.