Hawthorne Police Need Public's Help Catching Driver Suspected In 2 Hit-And-Runs
HAWTHORNE (CBSLA.com) — Hawthorne police are asking for the public's help in their search for a man suspected in two hit-and-run crashes.
The most recent accident happened on Crenshaw Boulevard in Hawthorne on Feb. 15.
A woman, who only wanted to be identified as "Donna" said she and her three kids were in her Chevy Malibu, seen in a video, heading northbound when a Chrysler 200 came barreling toward her from the southbound lanes.
"So, straight head-on and hits a car in front of me. He ju st slams towards us. It happened really fast," Donna said.
Police said after slamming into the first car, the Chrysler went airborne, flipped, hit the ground and crashed into Donna's car.
"When I got out, all I could think was get the kids out of the car. I was extremely shocked to see that we actually survived that."
As people tried to help, police said, the video shows the driver running away. Investigators identified him as Orland Lewis. They said he had just been involved in another hit-and-run crash nearby moments before this crash.
Police arrested him the next day on a warrant for credit card fraud. But he bailed out before investigators figured out he was the driver they were looking for.
"He's got no respect for the law. He's got no respect for the citizens on the highway. This is a guy who needs ample time to reflect on the errors of his way in custody," said Lt. Ti Goetz of the Hawthorne Police Department.
Donna said. "I just hope that he doesn't do it again."
The first driver who was hit suffered neck and back injuries. He is expected to recover.
