Hit-and-Run Collision in South Los Angeles Leaves Female Dead, Male Hospitalized; Detectives Seek Driver of Kia Sorento

SOUTH LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15 (KNN) — A female pedestrian was killed and a male critically injured in a hit-and-run collision in the Vermont Vista neighborhood of South Los Angeles Sunday night. Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating the driver.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southeast Division patrol units responded to a hit-and-run traffic collision involving two pedestrians around 10:40 p.m. in the 9300 block of South Vermont Avenue.

When first responders arrived on scene, they located two pedestrians down in the roadway. One of the pedestrians, a female, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the LAFD.

The second victim, a male, was transported to the hospital in critical condition, according to the LAPD in a news release on Monday.

Both victims were crossing the street in a crosswalk on Vermont at about 93rd Street, according to Sgt. Kevin Ahlemeir with LAPD’s South Traffic Division interviewed at the scene by Key News Network.

Witnesses contacted the LAPD later and advised that they saw a gray Kia SUV flee the scene at a high rate of speed northbound on Vermont after striking the pedestrians, said Ahlemeir.

One set of witnesses returned to the scene to inform LAPD that they stumbled upon the suspect vehicle a few blocks north on Vermont.

A silver 2023 Kia Sorento with front end and windshield damage was found abandoned near the intersection of Vermont Avenue and 90th Street. The driver fled on foot in an unknown direction, according to the LAPD.

The vehicle was impounded and secured as evidence, stated the LAPD in the news release.

Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD’s South Traffic Division Detective Flannery or Detective Moreno at (323) 421-2500. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.

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.

Gabriel Pabon, Video Journalist / KNN