Santa Monica police say they have located and interviewed the driver involved in Wednesday morning’s fatal hit-and-run collision at the intersection of Lincoln and Santa Monica Boulevard, but have not placed him under arrest.
SMPD Sgt. Richard Lewis said the department received a phone call late last night from a family member of the driver of the vehicle, who believed her family member was involved in the accident.
“Officers responded to the residence, and they were able to confirm the vehicle was involved in the accident,” Lewis said. “The vehicle was impounded and the family member and the driver was contacted and they are fully cooperating.”
Investigators have interviewed the driver, and he has not been placed under arrest at this time as the investigation is continuing, Lewis said.
The driver, whose name has not been released, is a white male from Los Angeles who is 76 years old.
Lewis said the driver has already visited the California Department of Motor Vehicles for a reevaluation to determine whether he is fit to drive, but the results of this ordered test have not been released.
Lewis said investigators have identified the victim who is a white male aged 73, but they will not release his name yet because they have not found any of his family members.
The hit-and-run occurred at 5:50 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
The victim was walking eastbound in the south cross walk on Santa Monica Boulevard crossing Lincoln, apparently against a red light.
Lewis said the driver was headed southbound along Lincoln Boulevard in the number one lane, who had a green light going through the intersection, when he struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk, and failed to stop and remain at the scene.
At the time of the incident, witnesses described the vehicle as a 2009 to 2011 charcoal grey Toyota Camry with damage to its right front hood, right front fender, and right passenger mirror.
Anyone with information is urged to call police at 310.458.8495.
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