Male Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run Collision NR11266gb

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is asking for public’s help in providing information about a traffic collision that killed a pedestrian in Reseda.

On Monday, June 13, 2011, at about 2:45 a.m., a male pedestrian was walking in the roadway, pushing a shopping cart, near the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Bassett Avenue.  A car, later identified as 1998 purple colored Ford Mustang, was traveling northbound Reseda and struck the victim.  The pedestrian was pushed to the ground and the shopping cart was pushed over.

The driver of the Mustang immediately left the scene without rendering aid or identifying himself as required by law.  

The pedestrian was critically injured and laid dying on the street for several hours within the debris of recycling containers until observed by LAPD patrol officers. The victim was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Following leads left at the scene of the hit-and-run, LAPD officers were able to locate the suspect’s car several blocks away from the collision scene.  Officers then arrested 30-year-old Jose Berrios of Reseda and booked him for felony hit-and-run causing death.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family members.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Officer Talley at 818-644-8116 or 818-644-8020.   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 1-800-222-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.