Santa Monica Veteran Struck, Killed In Hit-And-Run

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica police are searching for a suspect believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision with a pedestrian on Sunday.

The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Chelsea Avenue at about 6:40 p.m. on Dec. 22 after receiving reports of the collision.

According to SMPD, a woman was crossing Wilshire Boulevard when a white Toyota Rav4 heading eastbound struck her. Witnesses told police they saw the vehicle speeding away after it struck the woman.

"Tragically, the victim, a Vietnam War veteran and Santa Monica resident, was pronounced deceased at the scene," SMPD said in a statement.

SMPD's Major Accident Response Team responded to the scene to investigate.

The investigation into the collision is still ongoing, and law enforcement is asking for the public's help identifying the suspect and vehicle. Video footage of the suspect vehicle is available on SMPD's account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Anyone who may have additional information about the incident was urged to contact Investigator Evan Raleigh at Evan.Raleigh@santamonica.gov, Investigator Lantz Lewis at Lantz.Lewis@santamonica.gov. For after-hours reports, call the SMPD Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.