Suspected Driver Surrenders In Fatal Encino Hit-And-Run
ENCINO (CBSLA.com) — The suspect in a hit-and-run crash that left a 48-year-old pedestrian dead turned himself in Monday afternoon and is being held on $50,000 bail.
The suspect, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in at the Valley Traffic Bureau in Panorama City at about 4:30 p.m. in connection with the early morning fatal hit-and-run crash, Los Angeles Police Detective Bill Bustos said. The suspect, who was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, was identified as 26-year-old Grant James Valentine of Woodland Hills.
The accident happened around 12:15 a.m. at the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Gaviota Avenue in Encino, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
The victim was walking outside of the crosswalk on westbound Ventura Boulevard when he was hit by a black SUV. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics and his identity is pending notification of next of kin.
Police said the SUV, a 2007 to 2014 black GMC Denali with tinted windows, sustained right front-end damage near the passenger side and has a license plate beginning with "6."
Monday's incident was the third hit-and-run in three weeks.
LA City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who proposed a motion calling for standing monetary rewards to be implemented for hit and run drivers, released a statement Monday afternoon.
"I call upon the state legislature to stiffen the penalties for hit and run crimes, making them equivalent in seriousness to DUI offenses," he said.
Anyone with information about the accident should contact Valley Traffic Division Officer Fuentes at (818) 644-8022.
RELATED STORY: City Councilman Buscaino Proposes 'Standing Reward' Motion For Hit-And-Run Crimes
