VAN NUYS, CA — A violent Van Nuys crash early Wednesday left one person dead and another injured, and investigators are now looking into whether the incident is connected to a hit-and-run reported just minutes earlier in the same area.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the collision occurred around 1:00 a.m. A gray Scion traveling at high speed northbound on Kester Avenue slammed into a Toyota Prius heading west on Saticoy Street. Detectives have not yet determined which driver had the right of way, but speed is believed to have played a major role in the crash.
The driver of the Prius was pronounced dead at the scene. The Scion’s driver was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries.
A nearby resident said the impact woke him up, and that several neighbors rushed outside to try to help the victims. He noted that the intersection has seen multiple crashes in the past and is especially dangerous due to a nearby school.
LAPD investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, collecting evidence, and speaking with witnesses to determine whether the Scion driver was involved in the earlier hit-and-run and to establish who is ultimately responsible for the crash.