Driver Sought Following Deadly Head-On Collision In Mid City
MID CITY (CBSLA.com) — Authorities on Saturday continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding a deadly hit-and-run crash in Mid City.
The accident on the 2100 block of West Boulevard occurred just before 11 p.m. Friday.
According to authorities, a blue Mercedes Benz was speeding south on West Boulevard when he veered out of his lane to go around a car. He allegedly lost control and slammed head-on with a pickup truck. Police said the impact was so intense that it shoved the truck back 30 yards.
The Mercedes Benz slammed into a light pole, which toppled over.
The driver of the truck, identified by loved ones as 72-year-old Jerry Welch, was ejected from the vehicle.
Welch was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
CBS2's Joy Benedict reports that at least one other occupant in the Mercedes Benz fled on foot and another person was taken to an area hospital.
Police say they believe they know who owns the Mercedes Benz. So far, no arrests have been made.
Welch's niece Tamani Forrester, who lives near the crash site, said she heard the crash and called 911.
She said Welch was a local business owner who used to play baseball overseas.
"He just brought life to the neighborhood and this family," Forrester said.
"Everybody, everybody in the neighborhood knows him...knew him," neighbor Robert Kahn said.
"We need speed bumps, something to slow the traffic here. It's not fair for us," neighbor Laurette Lanier said.
