Driver Who Hit Pedestrian Is Booked After Victim Dies In Hospital
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 54-year-old man who was hit by a car while crossing a South Los Angeles street died of his injuries, and the driver has been booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, according to authorities.
The victim, Francisco Lopez, died at the hospital after Israel Gutierrez, 18, collided with him on Compton Avenue near 57th Avenue.
Gutierrez was driving his 1996 Honda Prelude southbound on Compton Ave. when the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Sunday, according to Los Angeles Police Department Central Traffic Sgt. Kevin Custard.
"The Honda was southbound on Compton Avenue and the pedestrian was crossing the roadway when the vehicle struck him," Custard said.
Lopez was reportedly knocked under a van, Custard said, and added that "the Honda then hit a parked vehicle."
Gutierrez is reportedly a licensed driver, and he was not under the influence of alcohol, but witnesses report that he was speeding.
Lopez died while at County-USC Medical Center, according to Custard. Gutierrez was taken to the same medical center for minor injuries.
Anyone who has information about the crash, which remains under investigation, has been asked to call detectives Josephine Mapson or Felix Padilla of Central Traffic Detectives at (213) 972-1851.
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