Violent attempted hit-and-run crash leaves 2 dead in Southern California
Two people are dead after a horrific crash involving an attempted hit-and-run driver Thursday in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities confirmed to KTLA.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of the crash near Arlington Avenue and 29th Street at just before 12 p.m.
According to police, the male driver of a black BMW sedan traveling southbound on Arlington Avenue at a high rate of speed rearended a parked UPS truck, possibly sending the sedan airborne where it collided with several cars traveling northbound, as well as other vehicles parked on the street.
A female in the front passenger seat and a male in the backseat were both ejected from the BMW.
Medical personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the location and declared both victims dead at the scene.
Moments after the collision, witnesses told police that the driver of the BMW exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot.
“Some Good Samaritans gave chase, stayed with him as they called 911,” Det. Ryan Moreno said. “He was eventually captured and taken into custody without incident several blocks away.”
The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
“I can tell you that right now it looks like there was some narcotics involved in this, that maybe contributed to this collision, but we’re still investigating,” Moreno added.
Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA) Two people were killed after being ejected from a vehicle where the driver attempted to flee the scene in Jefferson Park on Mar. 28, 2024. (KTLA)
Footage of the aftermath showed just how violent the impact was, with the top of the BMW almost entirely ripped from vehicle’s frame and a crater-sized dent in the backend of the UPS truck. Several other cars struck during the collision also sustained heavy damage.
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Det. Moreno added that while the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation and police will need time to review surveillance footage of the incident collected from nearby homes, the driver of the BMW could be facing murder charges.
“Based on what we’re seeing behind us, that kind of damage with the narcotics possibly involved, this looks like a charge for two counts of murder possibly,” he said. “You can’t drive this fast in the city, under the influence or not, running a red light and this happens – you kill your passengers.”
No other serious injuries were reported.
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