Santa Monica police seek suspects in connection to two separate incidents
By Sam Catanzaro
A hit and run in Santa Monica over the weekend left one person dead, the second such incident the city has seen in recent weeks.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on November 13 around 8 p.m. officers responded to a fatal hit and run traffic collision at 10th Street and Pico Boulevard. Investigators learned that a male pedestrian was crossing the street when he was struck by a vehicle which immediately fled the scene. A second vehicle then hit the victim when he was down on the roadway. That vehicle stopped to assist, and the driver has cooperated with investigators.
The unidentified male victim believed to be in his 50s was pronounced dead on the scene by Santa Monica Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner could not immediately be reached for further information about the victim.
According to the SMPD, the suspect vehicle is possibly a white Dodge Challenger, or similar make-model, with red racing stripes over the hood. The vehicle was last seen traveling eastbound on Pico Boulevard after the collision The SMPD does not have any available pictures or videos to share of the vehicle currently.
The SMPD is also attempting to identify the driver and vehicle involved in another hit and run incident that occurred on October 31 around 12:57 a.m. at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and 3rd Street. According to the SMPD, the vehicle struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk causing serious bodily injury to the victim before fleeing.
“The vehicle is believed to be an Infiniti G-series sedan, white in color, with no front plate and major damage to the windshield on the passenger’s side from this collision,” the SMPD said of the vehicle.
SMPD investigators are searching for any information that will assist in identifying the drivers in both of these incidents. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Investigator Evan Raleigh at 310-458-8954 or evan.raleigh@santamonica.gov.
