LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Authorities today identified an 18-month-old boy who was killed when a car involved in a traffic crash hit him and a woman in the North Hills area of Los Angeles, and a motorist who left the scene was still being sought.
Gerardo Chavez Morales of North Hills was struck about 7:35 a.m. Sunday on Nordhoff Street at Langdon Avenue and died at a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office and the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to police, a silver 2016 Honda HRV was westbound on Nordhoff Street, turning left to go south on Langdon Avenue, when it was struck by a gray car, believed to be a four-door Toyota Camry, that was eastbound on Nordhoff Street.
“Due to the nature of the impact, the Honda HRV changed its direction and began heading towards the southeast corner that was populated by several pedestrians,'' police said in a statement.
“The Honda HRV drove onto the sidewalk colliding with some of the pedestrians,'' police said. “One of the pedestrians was a 1 1/2-year-old child who was in a stroller. The Honda HRV pinned the stroller and victim against a brick planter. The driver of the gray colored sedan continued to drive eastbound Nordhoff Street without stopping, identifying themselves or attempting to render aid.''
According to ABC7, the boy was with his grandparents near a food cart when he was fatally injured. The boy and a woman who was seriously injured were taken to a hospital, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. The woman was not related to the boy, Channel 7 reported. The Honda driver remained at the scene, according to police.
The driver of the other car remained at large. A motorist who surrendered to authorities on Sunday was involved in an unrelated case, and was not connected with the fatal crash, as had earlier been thought, police said.
A standing reward of up to $50,000 has been offered by the Los Angeles City Council for information that helps solve a fatal hit and run crash. Anyone with information was urged to call the LAPD Valley Traffic Division at 818-644-8034; 877-LAPD-247; or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
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