Skateboarder, 22, left for dead by hit-and-run driver in L.A. identified

Investigators have yet to locate and arrest the motorist involved in a deadly Koreatown hit-and-run that left a 22-year-old skateboarder dead.  

The fatal March 27 collision occurred at around 6 a.m. near the intersection of 6^th and Catalina streets as the victim, now identified as Oscar Lopez, was riding his skateboard to work.   

In surveillance footage captured by a nearby business, the driver of a gray four-door sedan is seen traveling westbound on Catalina Street when they struck and killed the 22-year-old as he approached 6^th Street, officials said.

The grainy footage of the crash did not, however, provide investigators with any additional information about who was behind the wheel of the car.  

While police scoured the scene for evidence, closing 6^th Street between Berendo Street and Kenmore Avenue for more than two hours, a white canopy covering the remains of the 22-year-old could be seen, as well as one of his shoes knocked loose from the impact and broken pieces of his skateboard.   

Authorities said the impact of the crash was so severe that it also left a trail of vehicle parts in the area, which might aid detectives in locating the driver.   

“You’ve got to watch out for everyone. There’s a lot of people, especially in the city,” Gilberto Mendez told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw, adding that the skateboarding community is livid that the driver just kept going. “I think that’s horrible. You have to stop.”  

The family of the 22-year-old is devastated. In a tribute to Lopez, his sister, Giselle Lopez, wrote in a part on a GoFundMe: 

“He was a person who always prioritized others above himself, even when he needed the most support. A person that never left your side. It pains me to see my parents’ worst nightmare come to life. We have lost a brother, a friend, and a son. We are currently fighting for justice to find who did this and would appreciate any donations. ” 

Mendez, a skateboarder himself, said he knows all too well the dangers of riding in the streets of Los Angeles.  

“It could’ve been me. That happened to me almost on a daily basis last week,” he said.  

It is unclear if authorities were able to find footage of the crash from other surrounding businesses that provided a clearer view of the incident, but aside from the vehicle description, no other information about the motorist has been released.  

Anyone with any information about the investigation is urged to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.  

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