LOS ANGELES, CA – A West Hollywood man suffered a broken leg Wednesday night when a white BMW turning onto Santa Monica Boulevard allegedly ran over his leg and drove away without stopping, and he is now asking the public to help identify the driver, the man said.
Mark Escalante said he was riding his personal Ninebot scooter on Santa Monica Boulevard near Martel Avenue at about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, when the car struck him. He was traveling eastbound on the north side of the boulevard, he said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies from the West Hollywood Station are investigating the collision. Escalante had surgery Thursday, Oct. 8, and is recovering.
As of Saturday, Oct. 10, no driver had been identified.
BMW turned right onto westbound boulevard
Escalante said the white BMW was making a right turn onto westbound Santa Monica Boulevard when it ran over his leg. He said the driver did not stop to help him or remain at the scene.
The account of the collision comes from Escalante. He described the vehicle only as a white BMW making that turn, and no other description of the car or the driver has been made public.
Snapped tibia requires surgery
Escalante said the impact snapped his tibia. He underwent surgery on the leg Thursday, Oct. 8, the day after the crash, and said he is now recovering.
In the days after the operation, Escalante spoke publicly about what happened and asked the community to help find the person who was driving the car. His appeal is aimed at witnesses who were near Santa Monica Boulevard and Martel Avenue that evening and at anyone who may recognize the vehicle.
License plate photographed at traffic light
Escalante said he photographed the BMW’s license plate while the car sat at a traffic light on Santa Monica Boulevard. The image is not particularly clear, he said.
Because of that, he is hoping that witnesses, or anyone who recognizes the car, will come forward with information that could lead to the driver.
Sheriff’s deputies investigate the crash
The City of West Hollywood contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for police protection, according to the city. Deputies assigned to the West Hollywood Station are the ones investigating the Oct. 7 collision.
The department has asked anyone with information about the crash to contact the West Hollywood Station. Detectives at the station can be reached at 310-855-8850.
Hit-and-run collisions across the county
The California Office of Traffic Safety lists 7,398 hit-and-run fatal and injury collisions in Los Angeles County for 2023 on its county rankings page. That figure places the county 37th among the state’s 58 counties in the office’s ranking.
The same page lists 58,758 total fatal and injury victims in Los Angeles County for 2023. It also lists 7,118 nighttime collisions, a category the office defines as crashes between 9 p.m. and 2:59 a.m.
How to share information with investigators
The West Hollywood Station takes reports of crime activity by phone at 310-855-8850. The station is at 780 N. San Vicente Blvd. in West Hollywood.
Anonymous tips can be sent by texting TIPLA and a message to CRIMES (274637), or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). In an emergency, the city directs residents to call 9-1-1.
Anyone who was near Santa Monica Boulevard and Martel Avenue around 9:15 p.m. Oct. 7, or who recognizes a white BMW connected to the crash, is asked to contact the West Hollywood Station.
No driver identified as of Saturday
The investigation remains active. As of Oct. 10, authorities had not announced the identification of the driver or any arrest in connection with the crash.
Escalante continues to recover from his leg surgery and is asking the public for help finding the person who left the scene.
