Two people were killed and two others injured when a driver struck four pedestrians on a Wilshire Boulevard sidewalk near the Von's grocery store Friday night before fleeing on foot, Santa Monica police said.
The collision occurred around 9:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard when a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes drove onto the south sidewalk and struck the victims, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were transported to a local hospital with injuries and are expected to survive.
The local CBS affiliate, KCAL, said the Medical Examiner's office reported one victim as 61-year-old Brad Lipshy, the CEO of a Santa Monica event planning firm. The name of the second victim has not been released.
The vehicle remained at the scene but the driver fled on foot before officers arrived. Police described the suspect as a Black male, approximately 6 feet tall, last seen wearing a red hat, black sweater and black shoes.
The department's Major Accident Response Team is investigating. Wilshire Boulevard between 14th Street and Euclid Avenue was closed for several hours.
"We recognize the gravity of this tragedy and the impact it has on our community," Interim Chief Darrick Jacob said. "Our investigators are working tirelessly to identify and locate the suspect responsible, and our hearts are with the families of the victims who are experiencing unimaginable loss."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201, ext. 5311, or Lantz.Lewis@santamonica.gov; Sgt. Jason Olson at (310) 458-8367 or Jason.Olson@santamonica.gov; or the Watch Commander at (310) 458-8427.