Chatsworth: The Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Traffic Detectives (VTD) are investigating a hit-and-run traffic collision that killed a male pedestrian in his 60’s.
On October 18, 2026, around 12:30 a.m., a dark color SUV (possibly black BMW type SUV) was traveling southbound on De Soto Avenue at Lassen Street when it struck a male pedestrian who was walking inside a crosswalk. The hit and run vehicle stopped momentarily along the curb just south of Lassen Street before fleeing southbound without stopping, identifying self, or rendering aid as required by law.
The Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene pronounced the pedestrian deceased. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. He was a male, White, in his 60’s.
VTD Detectives are urging the public to come forward with information regarding this fatal hit and run. If you were driving southbound on De Soto Ave north of Lassen Street on Sunday early morning around 12:30 a.m., and/or witnessed the collision, please contact VTD Detectives with any information you may have.
Motorists 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. Pedestrians are also reminded to cross the streets when it is safe to do so as to not cause a hazard to traffic.
On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members that provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.
Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division, Officer Lozon at (818) 644-8117 or Officer Reyes at (818) 644-8114. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the Get Involved-Crime
Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.