Officers arrested a 29-year-old driver after she allegedly collided with another driver in Gardena on Sunday morning – killing him upon impact – and then fled the scene, police said.
The Gardena Police Department said it received calls around 7:38 a.m. reporting a crash between two vehicles near the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and 135th Street.
Arriving officers found the two vehicles at the scene and called in the Los Angeles County Fire Department for a driver who was unresponsive and still in his car.
Despite rendering aid to the man, first responders determined that the man succumbed to injuries suffered during the crash and pronounced him dead at the scene. Officials said they are withholding the identity of the victim pending notification of next of kin.
As for the second car involved, officers said when they went to check on the condition of the second driver – they realized that she had fled the scene.
The police department identified the driver as 29-year-old Marian James, and, shortly after, found and arrested her outside of her home in the city of Los Angeles.
“A preliminary investigation indicated James was traveling southbound on Van Ness Ave when she ran the red light at 135th Street, colliding with the second vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on 135th Street,” the police department said in a press release.
Officers booked James at the Gardena Police Department for manslaughter.
The crash is still under investigation, and police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who may have additional information regarding the crash to contact Sergeant Daniel Guzzo at 310-217- 6122 or Investigator Jose Zamudio at 310-217-6189.
