Vehicle Passenger Killed in Traffic Collision Driver Left the Scene and was Later Arrested NR11546rf

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Division (VTD) detectives are investigating a traffic collision during which a passenger was killed, and the driver of the car in which the passenger was riding left the scene of the accident.

On Nov. 18, at about 9:15 p.m., 27-year-old Canoga Park resident Christian Alejandro Baeza Ledesma was a passenger is a 1991 Toyota Corolla heading south on De Soto Avenue.  The driver of the vehicle was 34-year-old Luis Ernesto Godoy, also of Canoga Park.  Suddenly, Godoy collided his vehicle with a parked tractor trailer just south of Nordhoff Street and then hit a third vehicle going south on De Soto Avenue in the second lane.

Los Angeles Fire Department rescue personnel responded to the location and attempted to treat Ledesma for his injuries.  Just after 9:30 p.m., however, they pronounced him dead at the scene. The occupants of the third vehicle were not injured in the collision.

Immediately after the accident, Godoy left the area but was arrested a short time later at his residence and booked for murder at the Department’s Van Nuys Division Jail where he remains with bail set at $1 million.    

Anyone who may have witnessed this traffic accident is asked to contact VTD Officer Lisett Fuentes at 818-644-8022.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.