Severe Injury Hit and Run Traffic Collision NR20331jl

Update

January 6, 2021

On January 4, 2021, around 9:20 p.m., a Central Traffic Division
Lieutenant was at scene of a traffic collision at Florence Avenue
and Avalon Boulevard. During the investigation, the Lieutenant saw
a truck travelling on Florence Avenue and immediately recognized
the truck as the same one that was involved in a hit and run
traffic collision on December 19, 2020. The Lieutenant waved the
driver down and directed the driver to pull over. The Lieutenant
made contact with the driver and recognized that the driver was the
same person who was captured in the video. The driver was arrested
for 20001(a) Felony Hit and Run, of the California Vehicle
Code.

The driver is identified as 26-year-old Jose Farias of Huntington
Park. He was booked under Booking No. 6099081.

Los Angeles: Detectives from the
Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Traffic Division are
seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect
responsible for the hit and run traffic collision that severely
injured an elderly woman.

On December 19, 2020, around 5:35 p.m., an elderly couple was
crossing Soto Street at Cesar E. Chavez. They were walking
towards the southwest corner of the intersection and were in a
marked crosswalk. A white pick-up truck was traveling westbound
on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and negotiated a southbound left turn
onto Soto Street, striking the victim and knocking her onto the
street. The driver did not stop to render aid, nor identify
himself, and fled the scene southbound Soto Street.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and
transported the victim to a local hospital where she was treated
for severe injuries and then released a few days later.

Detectives have obtained video from a gas station that captured the
driver prior to the collision. The truck is described as a white
1998 to 2004 Chevrolet S10 pick-up. It has an after-market light
bar on top of the cab, blacked-out taillights, and has a distinct
dent on the rear top corner of the driver’s side of the cab. The
bed of the truck contained a clutter of items that appear to match
the video that captured the truck fleeing the scene after the
collision.

The driver is described as a male, Hispanic, black hair, with a
beard. He stands approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 175
pounds, and is between 20 to 30 years old. He was wearing a royal
blue short-sleeve security uniform shirt, camouflage long sleeve
undershirt, and black pants.

Drivers are reminded to drive at a safe speed and if you become
involved in a collision, you should pull over and stop as soon as
it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the
scene to identify yourself.

On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles
Administrative Code and created a Hit and Run Reward Program Trust
Fund. A reward of up to $25,000 is available to community members
who provide information leading to the offender’s identification,
apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil
compromise.

The videos obtained will be posted on LAPD Central Traffic
Division’s YouTube account, “LAPD Central
Traffic”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Juan Campos,
Central Traffic Detectives, at 213-833-3713 or by e-mail at
31480@lapd.online, or Central Traffic Division Watch Commander at
213-833-3746. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls
should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone
wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to
www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit
www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the Get
Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly,
tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and
select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local
program.