SMPD Says 38-Year-Old Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey Fled California After the October Crash
The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested a man accused of fleeing the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash in Santa Monica that left two people dead and two others seriously injured last month.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey, 38, was taken into custody in Chicago, Illinois, after an extensive interstate manhunt led by SMPD detectives in partnership with the Chicago Police Department. Authorities say Kirksey was arrested near a transit center as he appeared to be preparing to flee further.
The collision occurred on October 24, 2025, in the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard, when a vehicle struck four pedestrians before fleeing the scene. The impact killed two victims, Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy, and left two others with critical injuries.
The Santa Monica Police Department’s Major Accident Response Team (MART) led the initial investigation, with detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) joining the case due to the severity of the crash and the suspect’s efforts to avoid capture.
Through a combination of digital forensics, witness interviews, and search warrants, investigators identified Kirksey as the driver of the vehicle, which had been rented through an online platform. Authorities allege he took deliberate steps to hide his identity after the crash, including leaving California within days of the incident.
Detectives also determined that the individual who originally rented the vehicle traveled to the crash scene after the collision, sought information about the incident, and later helped Kirksey leave the state. The extent of that person’s involvement remains under review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The District Attorney’s Office has charged Kirksey with multiple felonies, including two counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of felony hit-and-run resulting in injury, and one count of reckless driving.
Following his arrest in Illinois, Kirksey was extradited to Los Angeles County, where he remains in custody at the Santa Monica Police Department.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the case to contact Traffic Investigator Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201, ext. 5311, or the Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.
