A man killed when he was struck by a stolen Amazon delivery truck in South Los Angeles was positively identified Saturday.
Jose Rangel was 67 years old, according to the coroner’s office. He died from blunt force trauma.
According to police, an Amazon driver was making a delivery in the 4100 block of Woodlawn Avenue about 2 p.m. Thursday when the truck was stolen.
Cristian Ramos Sanchez, 37, of Los Angeles “entered the unsecured truck,” a Los Angeles Police Department statement said. “He was able to start the engine and drove off with the truck.”
The Amazon driver called 911 to report the theft, police said.
“Around 2:10 p.m., Sanchez was driving the stolen truck south on Main Street, passing 47th Place, when he became involved in a crash,” police said.
“Sanchez crashed into a parked vehicle which pushed that vehicle south into additional parked vehicles, causing an accordion-style crash,” police said. “The truck drove up onto the sidewalk, struck three male … pedestrians, and came to rest after colliding into a building.”
Rangel died at the scene. Two other pedestrians suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, police said.
“Sanchez, who had fled on foot, was followed by community members who called 911,” police said. “A Los Angeles Police Department airship responded and located Sanchez in the area of 51st Street and Broadway. Patrol officers were directed to Sanchez, and he was taken into custody.”
He was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and was being held on $85,000 bail, the LAPD reported.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Detective Juan Campos of the Central Traffic Division at 213-833-3713 or e-mail him at 31480@lapd.online. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.