Authorities Friday sought the public’s help to identify the stolen vehicle suspects involved in a hit-and-run crash in Arleta that critically injured a man reported to be a single father of three who also takes care of his mother.
Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division were called around 1:15 a.m. Sunday to Osborne Street and Beachy Avenue, where a stolen van that was westbound on Osborne Street went through a red light and collided with a Toyota Yaris, badly injuring that vehicle’s driver, 43-year-old Christian De Oro, who remains hospitalized in intensive care.
The crash was captured on surveillance video, which shows the U-Haul van crashing into De Oro’s Toyota. The two occupants of the van abandoned the vehicle and ran from the scene.
The single father of three was injured just four days before his daughter’s high school graduation, ABC7 reported.
“They didn’t attempt to render any aid to the victim or exchange any information,” LAPD Det. Josh Wade told Channel 7.
De Oro suffered multiple fractures to his knee, ribs, hips and pelvis, and has undergone several surgeries. Aside from caring for his three children, De Oro is also a caretaker for his mother, according to Channel 7.
A GoFundMe account established to help him and his family had raised about $5,900 as of Friday afternoon.
A standing reward of up to $25,000 has been offered by the city of Los Angeles for information that helps solve a non-fatal hit-and-run.
Anyone with information about the case was urged to call or text Valley Traffic Division detectives at 818-351-6391. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 877-LAPD-247. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.