A 20-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed in Inglewood before dawn Saturday by a van that left the scene and was later found on fire.
William McGill Jr. of Los Angeles was ejected from his bike when he was hit about 2:25 a.m. at Crenshaw Boulevard and 109th Street. He died a short time later at a hospital, according to the coroner’s office and the Inglewood Police Department.
Both McGill and the Dodge Caravan that hit him were northbound on Crenshaw Boulevard when the collision occurred, police said.
Police, who did not release a description of the hit-and-run vehicle or driver, asked anyone with information on the case to call them.
“A description of the hit and run vehicle was broadcast to local law enforcement agencies,” according to a police statement.
“The Inglewood Police Department was later contacted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who had received a radio call of a gray Dodge van that was engulfed in flames in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles (County).”
Once the fire was put out, investigators found damage consistent with the vehicle-versus-bicycle crash.
“Los Angeles County arson investigators were notified and will be assisting in the investigation,” police said.
Inglewood police traffic investigators are trying to identify the van driver and anyone with information about the crash was urged to call Investigator Jeff LaGreek at (310) 412-5134 or the watch commander at (310) 412- 5206.
—City News Service