FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2012
Contact: Richard Lewis, Sergeant
Phone: 310.458.8462
e-mail: richard.lewis@smgov.net
On July 16, 2012, at 12:16 a.m., the Santa Monica Police Department responded to the 21st Street and Wilshire Blvd. regarding a hit and run traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
The preliminary initial investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle was travelling westbound on Wilshire Blvd. The victim, a 30 year old female Santa Monica resident, was walking northbound on 21st Street in the east crosswalk. Based on independent witnesses, the victim was struck by the suspect vehicle. As a result of the collision, the victim was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
The driver of the vehicle failed to stop for the collision and continued westbound on Wilshire Blvd to northbound 15th Street then eastbound California Ave and out of sight.
Investigators from the Santa Monica Police Department’s Major Accident Response Team (MART) responded and assumed the investigation, which is ongoing at this time. The suspect vehicle is described as a charcoal grey or black Toyota or similar type sedan, which will have damage to the front grill, hood and driver side headlight assembly. There is no information on the driver at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigators Chris Dawson or Jason Olson at (310) 458-8954 or Sergeant Phillbo Rubish at (310) 458-8950 or the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at (310) 458-8495.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call WE Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (1-800-78-27643), or submit the tip online at www.wetip.com; you will remain completely anonymous and may be eligible for a reward, up to $1,000.00 if your information leads to an arrest and conviction.
Or, anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers by either calling (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting their website at www.lacrimestoppers.org. To text an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers, please view their webpage for detailed instructions. If the information leads to an arrest, the tipster is eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000.00.