Amazon Truck Stolen in Fatal Hit-And-Run in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA — A man was struck and killed on a freeway on-ramp in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles early Thursday morning, and the ordeal compounded when a Good Samaritan who pulled over to help had his vehicle stolen while he was aiding the dying victim.
The incident was reported around 4:45 a.m. on the westbound 10 Freeway on-ramp at Normandie Avenue. A pickup truck was entering the freeway from Normandie on a green arrow when a pedestrian was struck while crossing the ramp, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson.
The first driver pulled over, but another vehicle then entered the ramp, struck the pedestrian a second time, and continued without stopping. The victim suffered severe injuries and died on the way to the hospital, officials said.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed the man was first struck by a white pickup truck before the second driver ran him over and did not stop.
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Amazon Driver Who Stopped to Help
An Amazon driver who apparently witnessed the crash used his truck to block the on-ramp before getting out to help the victim. That decision came at a cost. While he was assisting the injured pedestrian, someone stole the Amazon truck and fled the scene.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a man’s vehicle was stolen as he stopped at the scene to try to help the victim. A neighbor identified at the scene said it was an Amazon driver who stopped and had his truck stolen.
Police are now searching for both the hit-and-run driver and the person who stole the Amazon delivery truck. The on-ramp was closed during the investigation.
Neighbors Knew the Victim
Neighbor Melissa Conley said the victim was a man who lived in an encampment on her street corner. “He spends his time fixing up bicycles for some money, and he was always sweeping and cleaning and trying to keep up the area,” she said.
Another neighbor at the scene, identified only as Liz, described seeing the man frequently in the early morning hours. “He would just be roaming around early in the morning, or really late at night and he was always wearing dark clothing, so you couldn’t see him,” she said.
What Victims’ Families Should Know
This case raises serious legal questions that go beyond the criminal investigation. A fatal hit-and-run involves multiple potential civil claims — against the driver who initially struck the victim, and separately against the second driver who made contact and fled. California law does not require a victim to be struck only once, or by only one vehicle, for each driver to bear liability. Every motorist who strikes a person and leaves the scene potentially faces civil accountability in addition to criminal charges.
California Vehicle Code Section 20001 requires any driver involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to stop, render reasonable assistance, and provide identifying information. Failing to do so is a felony. In a wrongful death case, that flight can itself be introduced as evidence of consciousness of guilt.
The Amazon driver’s conduct — stopping to block the ramp and render aid, at considerable personal risk — is exactly what the law contemplates. The theft of his vehicle while he was helping a dying man adds yet another layer of criminal conduct to an already devastating sequence of events.
For the victim’s family, identifying who was driving each vehicle that night is the central task. LAPD and CHP are both involved in the investigation, which improves the likelihood that surveillance footage, witness accounts, and vehicle tracking data will be recovered. Amazon’s delivery trucks are GPS-equipped and operated under corporate accounts, which means the stolen vehicle’s movements after the theft are likely traceable.
No arrests have been announced as of Thursday. The victim’s identity had not been publicly released pending family notification.
If you or a loved one was injured in a hit-and-run crash, speaking with a personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights and what evidence must be preserved.
