The mother who died after being hit by a car in a Mid-Wilshire neighborhood early on Tuesday was likely the 11th person to be killed by a suspected drunk driver so far this year in Los Angeles, more than double the death toll at that time. last year was allegedly caused by drunk drivers.
“The dangers of this, of course, show that at 8 a.m., a time when you wouldn’t normally think such deterioration is happening, that it is in fact a 24-hour problem. 24,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore.
LAPD data showed there were 10 driving-under-the-influence deaths between January 1 and April 15, 2023, compared to 5 during the same period in 2022.
Moore said there were early signs the driver involved in Tuesday’s crash was intoxicated, although detectives said at noon Wednesday the driver had not been arrested.
The woman’s 6-year-old daughter was seriously injured in the accident, which happened while they were walking to Hancock Park Primary School, where the girl is in first grade, the authorities said. authorities.
After the accident, he reportedly fled the scene on foot and shortly afterwards he was arrested by the police.
Moore said the increase in drunk driving fatalities in Los Angeles appears to correspond with an overall increase in accidents as people return to work, work and school after years of concentrated life on the house during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“And recently, an increase in drunk driving crashes, particularly our fatal crashes, is concerning,” he said.
The data showed the total number of pedestrian deaths so far this year, including cases reported as linked to driving under the influence, was 48, down from 50 during the same period in 2022.