Like two vehicles were street races In Van Nuys on Friday evening, authorities said, one of them collided with a car not involved in the race. Last weekend, a man in the uninvolved car died of his injuries, police said Tuesday.
According to Los Angeles police, he and another man in the car were hospitalized in critical condition after the crash on Sherman Way around 9:50 p.m. They were in a Honda Civic traveling eastbound on Sherman Way, which was attempting to turn left into a parking lot at Sherman Circle when a westbound Mercedes GT63 crashed into the Honda. The Mercedes was racing a Rolls Royce Cullinan when it struck the right side of the Honda, according to police.
Now, four days later, police are still looking for one of the drivers. The other driver has been arrested.
When the Mercedes and Honda collided, the Rolls Royce swerved to the left to avoid also hitting the Honda, causing the SUV to crash into oncoming traffic before crashing eastbound into a Chevy Traverse, police said . From there, the Rolls Royce struck a curb and the driver got out and fled, leaving the SUV there and not attempting to help anyone who was injured, the LAPD said.
While paramedics rushed the two seriously injured men in the Honda to a hospital, the driver of the Mercedes was also taken to a hospital after he complained of pain, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving, while the driver of the Rolls Royce is still wanted by detectives on charges of reckless driving and hit-and-run.
“Driving at an unsafe speed can cause serious consequences and the death of innocent bystanders,” the LAPD said in a statement.
The statement was issued on Saturday, while police confirmed the victim’s death on Tuesday. So the initial charges of reckless driving and hit and run could potentially be changed or improved.
Police have not released the identity of the murdered man. No other details have been released.
The LAPD is asking anyone with video footage of the crash to report it to police. Detectives are also asking that anyone with other information about the collision reach LAPD Valley Traffic Division Officer Reyes at 818-644-8114 or Officer Hansen at 818-644-8255. After-hours or weekend calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Those who wish to remain anonymous can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org. Tips can also be submitted at lapdonline.org.