2 pedestrians, including 5-year-old child, killed in separate crashes in Gardena

Two pedestrians, one of whom was a child, were killed in a pair of crashes in Gardena on Sunday, and authorities are investigating one of the incidents as a hit-and-run. 

Police say the first happened at around 3:55 a.m. at the crossing of Vermont Avenue and El Segundo Boulevard, when a car driving southbound on Vermont struck the pedestrian, according to a statement from Gardena Police Department.

In this instance, the driver remained at the scene to wait for police and fire department personnel to arrive at the scene, who pronounced the unidentified female victim deceased. 

The second crash, which happened at around 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Marine Avenue and Budlong Avenue, left one person dead and another injured, according to police. 

"A preliminary investigation revealed an unknown driver was traveling eastbound on Marine Ave approaching Budlong Ave. The driver turned north on Budlong Ave. colliding with both pedestrians in the crosswalk. The driver then fled the scene," said Gardena police in a statement. 

One of the victims, a 5-year-old Patrick Chacon, was pronounced dead at the scene, and a second person, his grandmother was rushed to a nearby hospital. A relative said she is in stable condition after suffering a broken leg. 

Gardena police said they were vigorously searching for the suspect, who was possibly driving a mid-sized, dark-colored SUV. They have also provided the family services. 

Anyone with further information on either crash is urged to contact investigators at (310) 217-6189.