LOS ANGELES, CA – Authorities are searching for a driver involved in a hit-and-run collision that left two pedestrians severely injured in Koreatown. The victims, a 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, are recovering from serious injuries sustained when a vehicle struck them as they crossed Western Avenue near Monette Avenue on the evening of Nov. 18.
The incident occurred around 8:37 p.m. as the friends were heading to a local restaurant for dinner. Dashcam footage from a nearby bus captured the moment the pair, waiting in a center divider lane for traffic to pass, were struck by a gray Toyota Camry. The collision sent both pedestrians onto the hood of the vehicle before they fell to the ground. The driver fled the scene, leaving the victims lying on the road.
Both were transported to a hospital, where they were treated for severe injuries, including internal bleeding and broken bones. The female victim, who was later moved to a rehabilitation facility, suffered a broken foot, internal injuries, and ongoing headaches.
“Once [the car] struck us, I remember just holding my head because it was so painful,” she said. “I looked up at the sky and thought, ‘Is this what heaven looks like?’”
The male victim recounted his first memory after the crash: “The bus driver was yelling, ‘He got away!’”
Police have described the suspect’s vehicle as a gray Toyota Camry sedan, model years 2018-2024, with possible damage on the driver’s side.
The victims, speaking publicly for the first time, expressed hope that the driver would be apprehended. “If it’s not me, it’ll be someone else tomorrow,” the woman said.
A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspect.
Authorities are reminding drivers that leaving the scene of a collision is a criminal offense. “Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact LAPD Detective II Holmes at 213-473-0238 or the LAPD tip line at 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.
The victims, who described their recovery as both physically and emotionally taxing, said they are grateful to have survived. “I’m feeling a bunch of different emotions every day,” the male victim said, reflecting on the aftermath of the crash.
