Hit-and-Run Driver Strikes Crowd of Pedestrians in Venice, Killing 1, Injuring 11

Police have detained a possible suspect, officials said

A hit-and-run driver plowed into a crowd of pedestrians near the Venice Boardwalk on Saturday afternoon, killing one person and injuring 11 others, authorities said.

Police have detained a possible suspect and a vehicle of interest, Lt. Andrew Neiman of the Los Angeles Police Department told NBC4. Officials later reported that a man in his 20s turned himself in to police in the neighboring city of Santa Monica.

The crash occurred about 6 p.m. near the end of Dudley Avenue (map), officials said.

Of the injured, 10 required hospitalization. One person remained in critical condition late Saturday and two others received minor injuries and declined hospitalization, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

The driver fled the scene after the crash, said Officer Jorge Torres of the Los Angeles Police Department. Torres described the suspect's vehicle as a dark-colored sedan.

A man who identified himself as "Paolo" and who works at a nearby cafe told NBC4 that he heard what sounded like a car speeding down a narrow alleyway, then screams.

He and others at the restaurant said they caught a glimpse of a dark-colored sedan.

The Venice Boardwalk is known for its street performers and eclectic shops and restaurants, and is considered a major Southern California tourist attraction.


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