A woman who survived a brutal hit-and-run in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz neighborhood is asking for the public’s help in finding the motorist who struck her and left her unconscious in the street last month.
Kate Oliva told KTLA’s Erin Myers that she was jogging at around 11:30 a.m. April 3 when the driver, believed to have been in a white SUV or truck, crashed into her at Talmadge Street and Franklin Avenue.
“Being hit is one thing, being left is quite another,” Oliva, who suffered serious injuries, told KTLA. “Just coming to in the road, covered in blood, disoriented, not knowing what happened and knowing that someone could do that and just leave you there is really harrowing.”
A passerby spotted her unconscious and bloody in the street and came to her assistance.
“I had a concussion. I had to get staples [in my head]. I had bruising and cuts all over the right side of my body,” the writer and filmmaker explained.
Oliva added that while she’s still recovering from her injuries, getting back to work full time has been difficult and that she has good and bad days, though she shared her gratitude for the strangers who helped her that day.
“If there is one silver lining to this experience it’s that I’ve gotten to know so many people in this community,” she said. “This is such a lovely place to live, and I feel really lucky because so many people have been so kind and helpful.”
Detectives canvassed the area where the hit-and-run occurred and spoke to potential witnesses but so far, the suspect remains free, which is why Oliva is reaching out to the public.
“It would be great to have a better understanding of what happened, who did this,” she said.
Police continue to investigate the hit-and-run and say detectives are still following up on potential leads.
Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to contact LAPD or email [email protected].
