Fatal Hit-and-Run Leaves one Woman Dead and Three Children Injured L.A. Councilman Offers Reward NR11101cj

March 9, 2011

Los Angeles:  Today at City Hall, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon offered a $50,000 reward for anyone who will come forward with information that will help LAPD Valley Traffic Division detectives solve a case of a fatal hit-and-run collision.  

On Friday, February 11, 2011, at around 2 p.m., Valley Traffic officers responded to a traffic collision call at Mercer and Sproule Street.  When they arrived they saw a woman and three children on the ground suffering from multiple injuries.  LAFD Rescue personnel responded and took the woman and children to a nearby hospital.  The three children were treated for moderate to serious injuries.  The woman, later identified as 28-year-old Pacoima resident Maria Pena, was pronounced dead.

The investigation revealed that a man, driving a four door grey pick-up truck, was traveling eastbound on Mercer Street toward Sproule Street, in Pacoima.  The truck collided with three children, and one adult, as they were crossing northbound on Mercer Street.  The driver of the truck left the location failing to stop to render aid to the victims or identify himself, in accordance to the law.  The suspect is described as a male Hispanic with spiked hair.  

Anyone with information about this incident or the whereabouts of the driver or car, please contact Valley Traffic Detective Bill Bustos at 818-644-8021 or cell 213-841-9060.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.