Motorcyclist Killed In Hit-And-Run Was Probation Officer, Baseball Coach

BOYLE HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — A motorcyclist was killed Monday morning in a hit-and-run accident.

The crash occurred around 6 a.m. at the intersection of Soto Street and Lancaster Avenue in Boyle Heights, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Ken Hamilton, 54, was leaving his job as a probation officer at the Eastlake Juvenile Facility when he was hit by a late 1990s silver four-door Honda Civic DX that was changing lanes.

Police were aided in the identification of the type of vehicle from a side mirror that was sheared off in the crash and was discovered at the scene.

"As he's in the number two lane of traffic, I have a car that doesn't appear to want to wait for the traffic to stop in the number one lane.  He veers in the number two lane, colliding with the motorcycle, causing him to subsequently die as a result of the traffic collision," Det. Michael Kaden said.

A number of Hamilton's co-workers saw the aftermath of the hit-and-run as they drove by.

"It's very hard for not only me, but for everybody that worked with him," Greg McCovey of the LA County Probation Department said. "We're a family."

The impact sent Hamilton into a traffic pole which then fell on top of him. He died at the scene.

Away from his job as a probation officer, Hamilton was a baseball coach at Santiago High School in Corona.

Students and players alike turned out to remember Hamilton with a vigil at the Santiago High School baseball field on Monday afternoon.

"He wanted to make sure the boys here on the baseball team, he wanted to make sure that they stayed out of trouble, and that they succeeded, and that they did everything they can to be the best people that they can (be)," Shannon Hamilton, Ken's daughter, said. "Not even just at baseball, but in life."

An official memorial service is planned at the baseball field on Saturday.

Anyone with information on the hit-and-run driver should contact the LAPD.