Driver Sought In Tujunga Hit-And-Run That Killed Engaged Couple Riding Motorcycle
TUJUNGA (CBSLA) – Authorities are looking for a driver of an SUV who ran away from the scene of a collision Friday night in Tujunga that killed a motorcyclist and his passenger.
Los Angeles police report that the crash occurred at 8:37 p.m. at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Valmont Street.
CBS2's Laurie Perez reports the two people killed were an engaged couple planning to marry this spring or summer.
A motorcycle carrying two and traveling west on Foothill was struck by an eastbound 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when the Tahoe attempted a left turn onto Valmont, police said.
The impact sent the motorcycle crashing into a parked car. The female passenger died at the scene, police said. The man was rushed to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where he also died.
The driver of the Tahoe abandoned his SUV at the scene and ran away on foot, police said. He was still at large as of Saturday evening.
Perez spoke with the family of one of the victim's. They were too distraught to talk on camera.
Friends and family came to the scene of the accident and left flowers and candles.
The coroner confirms the passenger was Ariane Turek, 30. Friends and family called her Ari.
Her mom and aunt gave CBS2/KCAL9 pictures of Ari and her fiance James Bellissimo.
Turek's family says Bellissimo was a military veteran who served several tours in the Middle East.
Saturday evening, a vigil was held for the victims at the crash scene.
More than 100 people attended, reported KCAL9's Adrianna Weingold.
She spoke to some of the couple's devastated friends and family. They wept and embraced as they walked closer to the site.
"He had a troubled life, but very happy at the end," said friend Ryan McKnight, "And you can see how many people came out here to support him and Ari."
McKnight,also the victim's brother-in-law, said the couple was inseparable, even "annoying at times. Definitely true love. They were all about it. I think in an odd way, if it had to happen, they would have wanted to go together."
"They were very happy," he says, "He was very loyal. You could always call him if you needed something. They will definitely be missed. Very much."
