Fatal Hit-and-Run Traffic Collision Leaves Bicyclist Dead NR23059ti

Sun Valley: Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run traffic collision.

On March 17, 2023, around 6:15 a.m., a white-colored flatbed truck was heading eastbound Tuxford Street when the driver negotiated a left turn onto northbound Lankershim Boulevard and collided with a bicyclist. The bicyclist was riding his bike eastbound inside the north crosswalk on Lankershim Boulevard when he was hit. The force of the collision caused the bicyclist to collide with the roadway outside the crosswalk. A second vehicle, a Silver Volkswagen Jetta, traveling northbound Lankershim Boulevard collided with the bicyclist who was laying on the roadway.

The second vehicle stopped as required by law and remained at scene. The driver of the first vehicle that collided with the bicyclist left the scene without stopping and/or rending aid and was last seen northbound Lankershim Boulevard.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and pronounced the male bicyclist dead. His identity is being withheld pending identification and notification to next of kin by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves. Failing to do so leads to serious consequences.

Bicyclists are also reminded to travel in the same direction of vehicular traffic when riding on the road and to walk the bike while crossing in crosswalks as a vehicle might not react in time.

On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members that provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Detective Buenaventura at (818) 644-8033 or Officer Garcia at (818) 644-8117. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.