'I Heard A Faint Scream' Says Resident Of Deadly Hit-And-Run In LA
POMONA (CBSLA) — An early morning walk turned deadly after a driver struck a pedestrian in a quiet Pomona neighborhood and fled.
Investigators received a 911 call of a "person down" around 2 a.m. Sunday.
When they arrived to Orange Grove Avenue near Huntington Boulevard, they located the victim, who was taken to the hospital but did not survive.
The victim was described as a man around 24 years of age, though his identity has not been released. He was believed to have been crossing in between two corners, which would be an illegal crossing.
However, the driver fled the scene.
"I was half asleep when it happened and I heard a faint scream so I wasn't sure if it was in my dreams or if it really happened," said Brenda Pasillas, a neighbor. "But then I saw the police sirens and all of that going so as soon as I got up, I noticed they pulled over right next door."
"It's really unfortunate especially on a day where we are celebrating our mothers. So unfortunately for a mother, she's going to have to wake up to the sad news," Pasillas added.
Police said they didn't find evidence usually associated with a hit-and-run, adding that the man might have been struck by vehicles after he died.
"The evidence that we have so far suggests that he may have posthumously been hit by two vehicles," said Det. Sgt. Bert Sanchez. He said the drivers of those other vehicles might not have seen the victim on the ground. "Even people that get home later on and wake up this morning with some type of substance on their vehicle, we would like for them to call."
Sanchez said the evidence was not consistent with a standing person getting struck by a vehicle.
"Typically, if you are standing there'd be some type of debris field — lenses of headlights, windshield, glass, etc. We haven't found any of that," said Sanchez.
Police said the victim lived within walking distance of the incident.
An investigation is underway.