Driver Arrested For Allegedly Killing Jogger In Walnut

WALNUT (CBSLA.com) — A driver has been arrested and accused of intentionally running over and killing a jogger in Walnut Monday.

A 1989 Toyota Camry was traveling eastbound on La Puente Road when it struck a man jogging on the bike lane, from behind, according to Lt. Steve Jauch of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau.

The drive then carried the jogger several yards on the hood of his car until it smashed through the backyard wall of a house in the 20200 block of  Bernard Avenue at 5:50 a.m., Jauch said. The victim died at the scene.

Homeowner Jim Li said he and his family were asleep when he heard the crash and couldn't believe his eyes. "It was shock. The driver was standing there. I asked him: 'Are you okay?' And he said: 'Someone dead. Call 911.'"

The unidentified driver was arrested for vehicular manslaughter at first. But the lead investigator told CBS2/KCAL9'S Rachel Kim that based on evidence and things the driver said during his interview at the scene, he was arrested for murder.

That investigator said he could not get into specifics like a motive or whether this was a case of road rage.

Lt. David Buckner said the incident appeared to have been intentional even though the victim and the driver did not know each other.

As for Jim Li, he is surprised to hear that the driver is accused of murder. "He looked like scared. He was like: 'my God, my God.' He was saying that," Li said. "It's bad. I feel very sorry for the victim."

He has been identified as 59-year-old Chi Shao of Walnut.

The driver, Haissan Massalkhy, 36, of West Covina is being held on $1 million bail.