Authorities Thursday stepped up their search for the hit-and-run driver responsible for fatally injuring a 33-year-old woman in the south Los Angeles area.
The crash was reported at about 3:40 a.m. Monday at 425 E. Vernon Ave., between Crocker Street and Towne Avenue, Officer Greg Kraft of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section said.
Ana Tica died at the scene, the coroner's office reported.
A $50,000 reward offered by the city of Los Angeles was in effect for information that helps police find the suspect. Officers planned to hand out fliers near the crash scene today in an effort to generate leads in the case.
Tica was walking west in the left lane of Vernon Avenue just west of Towne Avenue when she was struck by a westbound vehicle that stopped briefly, then fled southbound on San Pedro Street from Vernon, police said.
Investigators secured video from two cameras. One showed the hit-and-run vehicle just before Tica was struck and the second showed her body coming to rest in the street as the suspect vehicle fled the location, police said.
The vehicle was described as a possibly gray early 1990s Dodge Caravan or similar-type minivan with damage to its left front area.
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A description of the driver was not available.
"The video also captured a possible 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer or similar body type, with black door handles, drive into the video frame when the collision occurred," according to an LAPD statement.
"That same possible vehicle returned to the scene after the collision and drove away after a few minutes. Detectives would like to interview the occupants of that vehicle to assist us in identifying the hit-and-run vehicle and driver."
Anyone with information about the collision was urged to call LAPD Central Traffic Division detectives at (213) 833-3713, or the Central Traffic Division watch commander at (213) 486-3713.
After hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS or at lacrimestoppers.org.
