Los Angeles

Skateboarder Killed By In Hit-And-Run Driver In Tarzana

September 14, 2021 / 4:00 PM PDT / KCAL News

click to expand

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – A woman riding a skateboard was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Tarzana in the early morning hours Tuesday.

At the scene of where a hit-and-run driver struck and killed a skateboarder in the Tarzana area of Los Angeles, Calif. Sept. 14, 2021. (CBSLA)

The collision occurred at about 12:30 a.m. at Tampa Avenue and Topham Street, near the Woodcrest School, according to Los Angeles police.

A car traveling south on Tampa Avenue struck the victim while she was riding a skateboard in the street, police said. The woman, who is about 40 years of age, died at the scene. Her name was not immediately released.

The suspect sped away. The skateboarder was not in a crosswalk when she was hit.

One of Tigran Kirakosyan's security guards of Centaur Security Services was ending her shift at this school around midnight Tuesday when she heard the sound of a deadly hit and run.

"When she turned around, she saw a lady on the ground in the middle of the street. And the car had already left," said Kirakosyan.

>>On this security video from across the street, that's her calling 9-1-1.. then paramedics soon arrive. The LAPD says around 12:30am, a silver sedan was traveling southbound on Tampa Avenue south of Oxnard Street when it hit a woman riding a skateboard outside of a marked crosswalk. The driver didn't stop to help the woman, who the coroner's office identifies as 31-year-old Paris Camille Banks.

Based on debris from the car left at the scene, investigators have identified the suspect vehicle as a silver 2013 to 2018 model Toyota Avalon. It likely has major front-end damage to the right side of its fender.

Investigators were able to narrow down the car's make and model because the car parts at the scene had part numbers. There was no immediate description of the driver.

"Had the person stopped, they would not have been in trouble because it's late at night, dark area, people crossing the street you can't see them," said Capt. Brian Wendling of the LAPD.

Investigators are canvassing the area for surveillance video.

Police said if the driver had remained at the scene, they may not have been found at fault for the wreck.

The City of Los Angeles has a standing reward of up to $50,000 for information that will lead to an arrest or conviction in hit and run cases like this one.

Hit-and-Run