LOS ANGELES, CA – A teenage boy riding a pocket bike was fatally struck by a car early Sunday morning in South Los Angeles, with the driver fleeing the scene on foot, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 2 a.m. as the boy traveled north on San Pedro Street, just past 99th Street. Surveillance footage captured a dark-colored Toyota Corolla rapidly overtaking the pocket bike before striking it from behind.
The impact left the small motorized bike jammed into the front end of the car. The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the boy dead at the scene. His name has not been officially released, but a memorial at the crash site included candles bearing the name “Hayden.”
Police described the suspected driver as a man in his 20s with a heavy build. Authorities are actively searching for him and are urging witnesses to come forward. A felony charge could be filed for leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Pocket bikes, which are illegal to operate on public roads, lack essential safety features and are difficult for other drivers to see, officials said. Law enforcement has raised concerns about their increasing use, particularly among minors. The Los Angeles Police Department’s South Traffic Division continues to investigate, and encourages anyone with information on the South LA pocket bike hit-and-run to call authorities.
