Thursday's deadly collision was along Ventura Boulevard, south of the Ventura (101) Freeway
TARZANA, CA, (August 15, 2024) - An 18-year-old Reseda resident was identified as the motorist who fatally struck a pedestrian in Tarzana on Thursday night and then fled the scene, police said.
Nathon Jaimes, an 18-year-old resident of Reseda, was arrested for his role in a fatal pedestrian crash along Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana Thursday night, according to LAPD.
It happened on 19563 Ventura Boulevard, south of the Ventura (101) Freeway. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), a gray Honda Civic was traveling eastbound on Ventura around 11:20 p.m. when it slammed into a pedestrian who was walking across Ventura east of Corbin Avenue. The Honda driver did not stop at the scene.
Tragically, the unidentified pedestrian died as a result of injuries.
Law enforcement officials located the suspect driver, Nathon Jaimes, 18, of Reseda, at his residence.
Jaimes was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death.
This is an ongoing investigation.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Failure to remain on the collision site can attract criminal charges, and the victim can also pursue a case against the driver.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (COTS), in 2018, around 893 pedestrians were killed on California roadways, a 26% increase from 2014.
In 2020, 16.8 percent of all crash fatalities in the United States were pedestrian deaths, according to federal data.
“Having the proper resources is extremely important to investigate a pedestrian accident case and prove negligence,” said Candice Bond, an experienced hit-and-run accident attorney and a Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
Added Bond, the national analyst for Newsline, “The driver always has to take great care behind the wheel.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family members of the victim may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal.
“A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that the victim's legal rights and best interests are protected.”
If your loved one has been killed by a hit-and-run driver and would like a no-cost consultation, please contact our national legal analysts Candice Bond and Stefano Formica today
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).