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Car Theft Suspect Accused Of Second-Degree Murder In Pedestrian's Death

CANOGA PARK (CBS) — A car theft suspect who is accused of striking and killing a pedestrian during a police pursuit was booked Sunday on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Ernesto Jacinto Lopez, 20, of Canoga Park, is being held on $1 million at the Van Nuys Station, Los Angeles police said.

The victim, whose name was being withheld by coroner's investigators early Sunday, was fatally struck Friday shortly before midnight at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Saticoy Street.

The suspect reportedly kept driving until he crashed into a tree at Vose Street south of Sherman Way, according to Lt. Debra Brownsten of the Valley Traffic Division.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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