A police investigation into a Woodland Hills hit-and-run accident that occurred in the early morning hours on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 has been ruled as an intentional homicide. The accident, which occurred near the intersection of Gilmore Street and Winnetka Avenue around 1 a.m., claimed the life of one male bicyclist and seriously injured another.
Police report that the two men were returning home from their jobs at a restaurant along Ventura Avenue when the accident occurred. According to a witness to the accident, the bicyclists appeared to be following the proper rules of the road. They were riding in the northbound direction when they were struck by the utility-style truck. His story was later corroborated by security camera footage in the area around the time of the fatal crash.
Both men, each in their 40s, were transported by ambulance to an area hospital. One of the men was pronounced dead on arrival. The other one was conscious, though no further details on his condition were provided.
Winnetka, in between both Vanowen and Victory, remained closed into the early morning hours as police investigated the accident scene. As the investigation dragged on, the case went from being managed by traffic accident investigators to homicide ones instead.
By the time their investigation concluded, homicide investigators had issued a request for the public’s help in tracking down the alleged perpetrator of this fatal accident. Police are currently searching for the owner of what they believe is either a late 1990s Chevrolet or Ford full-sized pickup truck with toolboxes. They believe the vehicle might have sustained some front end damage.
As for the driver of that truck, witnesses described him as being a white male in either his late 30s or early 40s. He is believed to have had close cropped hair both on his face and head.
If the alleged perpetrator in this case is found guilty of having intentionally struck either one of both of the men in this case, there’s a strong likelihood that there will be enough evidence for a Los Angeles fatal car accident attorney to pursue a wrongful death claim against him.
Source: losangeles.cbslocal.com, “Hit-and-run crash that killed bicyclist investigated as homicide,” May 24, 2017