Los Angeles, CA (January 7, 2024) April Ritz, 26, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on Thursday morning, January 4th, 2024. The fatal accident occurred on Sepulveda Boulevard, near the Los Angeles International Airport, authorities reported. According to initial reports, it all happened just after midnight in the area of West Century Boulevard.
Police officers said Ritz had been walking outside of a marked crosswalk on Sepulveda Boulevard when she was hit by a gray Toyota Highlander, heading south. 48-year-old Eduardo Alejandro Leiva was driving the vehicle at the time of the collision, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He continued driving and left the scene. In doing so, he left April Ritz lying on the ground, alone, with life-threatening injuries.
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Emergency personnel arrived at the scene to find Ritz lying in the street, unresponsive. They rushed to give her medical aid, only to find that she had been killed in the collision. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities and the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner was contacted.
Investigators working the case found the suspect and ended up arresting Leiva around 4:30 p.m. that same day. He was taken into custody on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and booked into the 77th Street Jail.
The Los Angeles Police Department said, “Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves.”