Police investigating a hit-and-run crash in Studio City that killed a musical collaborator of Grammy winner Christopher Cross released images Monday of a person and vehicle of interest in the case.
The pedestrian was struck about 7:25 p.m. Friday in the 12000 block of Moorpark Street, near Laurel Canyon Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD would not confirm the victim’s death, but the Los Angeles Daily News reported that Rob Meurer, a 65-year-old singer-songwriter and educator, died at a hospital on Saturday morning.
The LAPD released a photo of George Ronald Nicoletti, identifying him as a person of interest in the case, and a car described as a tan four-door 1998 Saturn Ion, California license plate 6HAY595.
An image of the vehicle, partially obscured by a tree, showed what appear to be stickers across its rear bumper. Investigators released the images in the hope that someone will recognize them and call police, said Detective William Bustos of the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division.
The car was eastbound on Moorpark and struck Meurer as he crossed mid- block. The driver did not stop to render aid to the injured pedestrian, police said.
Meurer, a Studio City resident, was a longtime collaborator and friend of Cross, whose hits include “Sailing” and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).”
Cross posted a message on his website paying tribute to his friend, who he met in their hometown of San Antonio, Texas, where they were in rival bands.
“We had a immediate connection, and from that moment a very special friendship was born out of our shared love of music,” he wrote. “As the years went on, we formed various cover bands, saw each other through rough patches and had lots of good times.”
Cross said Meurer was integral to his 1980 album, “which, with all humility, had such a unique sound that it took the pop music world by storm. We made our mark.”
In 1988, Cross wrote, “Rob and I began writing songs together which continued until the day he was taken from us. We had just finished our newest a song called ‘Truth.’
“To try and explain how I feel, or to try to imagine how his wife Beth and daughter Anne feel at this moment is impossible, but I felt I wanted to share with you the tremendous love and respect I had for this man,” Cross said. “He was quite simply the smartest guy I ever knew, funny, kind, devoted to his family and friends, and talented beyond measure. Not just with the work he and I did, but his own solo work, and his musical theater projects. His love of the craft was as deep as anyone I’ve ever known.”
Anyone with any information regarding the crash was urged to call Valley Traffic Division Detective Daniel Menesez at (818) 644-8028 or Bustos at (818) 644-8021.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or lacrimestoppers.org.
–City News Service