Updated on: June 28, 2022 / 8:00 PM / CBS Los Angeles

Authorities were investigating a fatal hit-and-run collision that occurred in the early morning hours on Tuesday, where one person was found dead at the scene. 

"It's terrible one of the kids got killed," said Jason Ashford, a neighbor. "I'm very sorry for them." 

Both vehicles remained at the intersection of Vanowen Street and De Soto Avenue where the collision occurred, though investigators believe the suspect exited their vehicle and fled on foot. 

According to investigators, the crash occurred just before 12:15 a.m., when the driver of a black Dodge Ram ran a red light while traveling southbound along De Soto Avenue at speeds around 80 miles per hour, colliding with the driver of a gold Lexus IS 350 that was traveling westbound along Vanowen Street. 

"It's like a bomb went off," said Diane, a woman who lives in the nearby area, detailing the debris scattered in every direction. "That's what it looks like. ... It was really, really, really loud."

The driver of the Lexus, later identified as 20-year-old Nelson Castaneda, was pronounced dead at the scene after their vehicle rolled over several times before colliding with a power pole, light pole and city street sign. He was reportedly ejected from his car, despite wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

"Our victim was almost all the way across the intersection by the time he got hit," detailed Los Angeles Police Department Captain Andrew Nieman.

The suspect reportedly exited their vehicle, which had also rolled several times, before fleeing on foot southbound down De Soto Ave. 

"We do have some video evidence of that and other witness statements that have led us to conduct an active search," said Nieman.

Search teams, aided by bloodhounds, were scouring a three-block radius for a male suspect, wearing dark clothing expected to be in his 20s. The search was called off at around 5 a.m. 

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First published on June 28, 2022 / 5:23 AM

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