Help from the public led to the arrest of a 73-year-old man suspected in a hit-and-run collision that killed a 27-year-old man riding a bicycle in West Hollywood, officials said Wednesday.
The victim, identified by the Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner as Blake Adam Ackerman, was struck by an older-model, white BMW sedan at about 9:45 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Gardner Street, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Preliminary findings revealed that Ackerman was riding west on Fountain when he was struck by the car, which was traveling in the same direction. The BMW, which was suspected to have a smashed windshield on the passenger side as a result of the crash, did not stop, sheriff’s officials said.
Ackerman was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators from the sheriff’s West Hollywood station said tips from community members and witness accounts helped them identify the vehicle and the driver, Douglas Morton Adams, and he was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of hit-and-run causing death, a felony.
Adams’ bail was set at $50,000 and he was later released after posting bond, according to sheriff’s online jail records.
“Due to the help from the community of West Hollywood and all the other good Samaritans that stayed to help with this accident, we were able to identify the driver,” according to a sheriff’s department news release.
“There are many other factors regarding this collision that are still under investigation,” the department added.
Anyone with information about the collision was urged to call traffic investigators at the West Hollywood station at 310-855-8850.