Pedestrian killed in street-takeover crash in South LA on Christmas night
A 24-year-old woman was fatally injured when she was struck by a vehicle doing "donuts" during a street takeover in the Hyde Park community of South Los Angeles on Christmas night, authorities said Monday.
The woman, who has since been identified as Elyzza Guajaca, a local nursing student, was standing at the northeast corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Florence Avenue when she was struck at about 9:07 p.m. Sunday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Paramedics rushed her to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
On a GoFundMe for the family, Guajaca's brother offered wrote about his sister, calling her a "good, goofy, funny, outgoing person."
"My sister was an aunty to my beautiful girls who loved her so much. She was a beautiful sister who loved big," the message on GoFundMe said. "She was a daughter who always wanted to be with around and have family time. She was the rock to our family. She loved all her close friends and family."
The driver left the vehicle at the crash scene and fled on foot, police said.
One witness to the takeover detailed the set of circumstances surrounding the incident.
"You could see the smoke, you could smell it," said Cheyenne Colvin, who said that there were hundreds of onlookers at the takeover. "You would see how when they were doing the donuts how people would have to jump back cause they got so close."
On top of the wild driving, some people lit off fireworks.
"I thought they were shooting, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, no.' They had lasers too."
She says that this isn't the first time drivers have targeted their streets.
"They're planned, they're not just random takeovers," noting how once police arrive the events normally end. But on Sunday, the group made a second appearance at the intersection. "They lasted longer and they came back. The first one they did it for like, probably 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Then the second one, they did it for like, an hour before police came back."
Investigators are working to locate surveillance footage from one of the businesses located at in the intersection.
On Tuesday, local activist and Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson claimed to have witnessed a portion of the street takeover.
"Street takeovers present — as witnessed by the death at Florence and Crenshaw, and numerous injuries to life and damage to property at other takeover sites in the city — a grave problem for city officials," Hutchinson said, calling on city leaders like Mayor Karen Bass and the Los Angeles City Council to declare a state of emergency on the issue. "It has sparked community outrage and demand for stepped-up action. A state of emergency will further empower law enforcement and citizens to concentrate time, energy and resources on this deadly problem."
Anyone with any information about the accident was urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
A GoFundMe for the cause can be found by searching the keywords: "Put my beautiful sister to rest."