Detectives Seek the Public’s Help In Locating a Hit and Run Driver

Los Angeles – On July 4, 2000, at approximately 9:00 p.m., a small group of individuals were igniting illegal explosives (fireworks) on O’Farrell Street near the corner of Centre Street in the San Pedro area. At about that time, a vehicle described as a 1990/1991 white Honda Civic traveling on O’Farrell street swerved from the eastbound lane to avoid the fireworks and collided with a pedestrian attempting to cross the street in the area. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and render assistance to 17 year old Victor Villegas of San Pedro, who received deep lacerations to his right arm and superficial cuts to his scalp from being struck by the passing vehicle. Victor Villegas was treated at a local hospital and released following treatment for his injuries.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the hit and run vehicle was playing very loud music and that the driver of the vehicle was possibly a female Hispanic. There may have been three additional female Hispanic passengers.

The Los Angeles Police Department, South Traffic Division detectives are conducting this traffic collision investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to notify South Traffic Detectives at 323-290-6063. For additional information regarding this incident, please call Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

[A video tape of the incident is available to the media to assist the public in identifying the hit and run vehicle and driver].

This press release was prepared by Officer Guillermo Campos.