Suspect in fatal North Hills hit-and-run arrested in Mexico

 In blog, Crime News: Los Angeles Daily News
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Suspect in fatal North Hills hit-and-run arrested in Mexico

by City News Service

NORTH HILLS – Police are expected on to announce on Tuesday, Aug. 27, that they have made an arrest in a June 16 hit-and-run crash in North Hills that left a driver dead and critically injured four other people, officials said today.

Maritza Lara, 27, was taken into LAPD custody on Saturday, August 17, inmate records show. Police said the Van Nuys resident ran a red light and was speeding in a white 2016 Lexus IS200 that struck the driver side of a blue 2005 Nissan Murano on Haskell Avenue and Parthenia Street at about 5:35 a.m.

  • At 5:39 a.m. on June 16, 2019, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported traffic collision at 8711 N. Haskell Ave. Firefighters extricated two patients from vehicles in critical condition and transported a third patient with non-life threatening injuries. One patient was determined dead on scene. (Photo by Greg Doyle, courtesy of the Los Angeles Fire Department)

  • Maritza Joana Lara

    Police sought Maritza Joana Lara of Van Nuys, whom they suspect of fleeing the scene of a fatal accident on June 16, 2019, at Haskell Avenue and Parthenia Street in North Hills. (Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Department)

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The driver of the Nissan, Francisco Hernandez Rivas, 48, was killed in the crash and Lara’s four passengers were critically injured.

Police said Lara exited the Lexus, fled the scene on foot and failed to render aid to any injured parties. Rivas, the father of two teens, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police released surveillance footage that showed the accident and what appeared to be the driver of the Lexus walking away from the scene.

Lara fled the country and was subsequently located and taken into custody in Mexico, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Marshals Task Force and immigration authorities in Mexico, authorities said. She was turned over by the U.S. Marshals task force upon her arrival at LAX and arrested on her outstanding warrants related to the fatal crash.

Police said Lara has a prior DUI conviction. She was at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Los Angeles in lieu of $2.23 million bail, inmate records show. The suspect was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Staff writer Eric Licas contributed to this report.

All credit goes to City News Service
Originally published on https://www.dailynews.com

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Suspect in fatal North Hills hit-and-run arrested in Mexicoblog, Crime News: Los Angeles Daily News