In downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, an 18-year-old was murdered in a hit-and-run rollover collision that also injured six others, leaving loved ones devastated.
Just before one in the morning, the fatal collision happened at the intersection of Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue close to the Chinatown neighborhood.
One car overturned and landed on its roof in the high-speed crash, and the other vehicle was seriously damaged.
Two persons were trapped in the wreckage and rescued by firefighters, including Isaac Arellanes, Jr., a passenger in the vehicle that the suspect struck.
After being taken to the hospital, Arellanes was declared deceased. Two persons are still in critical condition, while six others were taken for care.
Leaving his injured passengers in the car, the suspect driver abandoned it and fled the scene on foot.
According to Sandra Torres, the teen’s grandmother, Arellanes recently started working at a bakery and was excited to start the next phase of his life. The kid was also the father of a small child, according to his relatives, who spoke to the L.A. Times.
“As a grandmother, I’m devastated,” Torres stated. “He got a car and just started college, doing good. Now his girlfriend is in the hospital with broken bones, fighting for her life.”
Despite the fact that the cause of the incident has not been established by authorities, witnesses think speed had a significant role.
On Saturday night, a growing monument was visible at the crash scene, adorned with candles, flowers, and poignant words. Family members, who are still inconsolable, hope the perpetrator is apprehended quickly.
“You need to turn yourself in,” Torres stated. “You left your wallet behind and it’s only a matter of time before the cops get you. Not to mention, you left your passengers in the car who are in critical condition. Turn yourself in and do what’s right. You killed my grandson.”
The defendant is still on the loose and is charged with several offenses, including vehicular homicide. For information about the incident, contact the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-527-3247.
