Hit-And-Run Driver Who Killed 2 Brought Back To Santa Monica After Fleeing CA: Police

SANTA MONICA, CA — A man accused of running down and killing two 61-year-old pedestrians in Santa Monica last month was arrested in Chicago, police said Wednesday.

Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey, 38, was arrested last week in connection with the Oct. 24 crash that killed Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy, who was the CEO of a Santa Monica event planning firm, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

The crash occurred at around 9:15 p.m. on the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard. A driver, later identified as Kirksey, veered onto a sidewalk and into a group of pedestrians, police said.

Two other people in the crowd were seriously injured and transported to a local hospital, police said.

The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot prior to officers' arrival, according to the SMPD.

Kirksey was driving a rental car. The person who rented him the vehicle "traveled to the scene after the collision, sought information about what occurred, and later assisted the suspect in leaving the state," police said.

Investigators tracked Kirksey to Chicago, where he was arrested with the assistance of the Chicago Police Department at or near a transit center "as he appeared to be attempting to flee further," police said.

Kirksey was transported back to Santa Monica. He was being held at the Santa Monica city jail in lieu of $1 million bail, according to police.

Kirksey was charged late last week with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of felony hit-and-run resulting in injury or death and one count of reckless driving, according to court records.

Police are continuing their investigation into the person who rented the car to Kirksey to determine if criminal charges are warranted, the SMPD said.

"This arrest reflects the persistence and professionalism of our investigators, who worked tirelessly to identify and locate those responsible for this senseless act," Interim SMPD Chief Darrick Jacob said. "While nothing can undo the pain this tragedy caused, this marks an important step toward justice for the victims and their families."

City News Service contributed to this report.