A $50,000 reward was announced this week for information that helps police find a motorist responsible for the hit-and-run death of a cyclist in South Los Angeles.
Frederick Frazier, 22, was struck by a white Porsche Cayenne SUV about 12:45 p.m. April 10 and died at a hospital.
About 1 p.m. on the day following the fatal crash, a hit-and-run car struck and injured a man at a vigil that was being held for Frazier at the site where he was fatally injured.
Both hit-and-run drivers remain at large, police said.
“A group of bicyclists had gathered at the intersection to bring attention to the hit-and-run death of their friend, and fellow cyclist, the previous day,’’ according to a police statement. “The gathering stopped the flow of traffic through the intersection. The suspect attempted to drive her vehicle into the intersection, at which time, an argument started between the suspect and a female bicyclist.
“The argument quickly escalated into a brief physical altercation,’’ the statement said. “The suspect re-entered her vehicle and drove eastbound on Manchester Avenue, conducted a U-turn, then drove westbound at a high rate of speed.’’
She hit a man who had been standing in the intersection, sending him flying into the air. The hobbled victim then hopped quickly to the side of the road. His injuries were not life threatening, police said.
Video of the collision was soon making the rounds on social media.
Some of the dozens of bicyclists taking part in the vigil immediately began following the motorist, while some tried running after the driver on foot. The sedan, however, disappeared in the distance.
Due to the vigil, Los Angeles police were already on the scene when the pedestrian was struck.
Some rocks and bottles were thrown toward responding officers and a patrol vehicle, but no officers were injured and no arrests were made. Police swarmed and cleared the intersection, but not before a department SUV had its rear window smashed. The SUV’s tires had been flattened by the time it was towed from the scene.
The motorist involved in the non-fatal hit-and-run was driving a tan-colored Honda Accord that is now in police custody. She was described as black, 25-30 years old, about 5 feet tall and around 120 pounds. She was wearing a multi-colored head scarf, a white top and multi-colored tights. She also had a nose ring and a tattoo on the left side of her stomach area.
Frazier was fatally injured by a white Porsche Cayenne that was heading east on Manchester Avenue when the collision occurred. The driver then headed south on Budlong Avenue before traveling west. The Porsche was last seen westbound near La Salle Avenue Elementary School, police said.
Anyone with information about either collision was urged to call (877) LAPD-247. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.
