23-Year-Old Arrested In Boyle Heights Hit-And-Run That Left Bicyclist Severely Injured
BOYLE HEIGHTS (CBSLA) — Police arrested a 23-year-old man Tuesday in connection with a hit-and-run collision in Boyle Heights that left a bicyclist severely injured.
Tips from the public led to the arrest Tuesday of Luis Raya-Flores who allegedly struck and injured a bicyclist in Boyle Heights and fled the scene.
Hours before his arrest, a $25,000 reward was offered for information regarding the crash that was caught on video.
The crash happened Thursday at about 10:20 p.m. A man on his bicycle was riding east on Whittier Boulevard near Calzona street when a white pickup truck crossed the center divider into oncoming traffic and hit the bicyclist head-on, according to Los Angeles police.
Video shows the impact of the crash threw the bicyclist into the air and flipped him before he came back down onto the truck's hood and onto the ground.
After the crash, the truck was seen veering back onto the right side of the street. Police say Raya-Flores did not stop to help the bicyclist and fled the scene in the truck.
"After the collision, the driver failed to stop to render aid, identify himself or herself and fled the scene in the vehicle," according to an LAPD statement.
Raya-Flores knew why Los Angeles Police Department Detective Juan Campos turned up at his Canoga Park area home and admitted to being the driver, Detective Campos said.
According to Campos, Raya-Flores said he fled because he panicked after hitting the bicyclist.
Raya-Flores was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and was being held in lieu of $80,000 bail.
The bicyclist, a 53-year-old man whose name was withheld, was taken to a hospital with severe injuries.
The victim was said to be doing well, recovering at home as of Tuesday afternon, police said.
Witnesses said the pickup truck was being driven at high speed and the driver lost control as he made a turn, leading to the collision, Campos said.
