Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal hit-and-run crash in Harbor City on Thursday afternoon as 35-year-old Sergio Maya, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The deadly collision was reported around 12:55 p.m. on September 25 along the Pacific Coast Highway near Western Avenue, a busy stretch of roadway that sees heavy daily traffic.
Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department said the chain of events began when a silver van traveling westbound attempted to turn in front of an eastbound motorcycle. The two vehicles collided, throwing the motorcyclist off balance. In the aftermath of the impact, an older-model pickup truck, also traveling westbound, struck the rider.
Paramedics quickly responded to the scene and attempted to resuscitate Maya, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the site of the crash.
Both the van driver and the pickup truck driver fled the scene without stopping to help or identify themselves, police said. The LAPD’s South Traffic Division is now investigating the incident and working to locate the motorists involved. Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance, urging anyone with information about the vehicles or drivers to come forward.
The tragic loss has raised renewed concerns over reckless driving and the dangers of hit-and-run crashes in Los Angeles. According to state data, Southern California continues to report some of the highest rates of hit-and-run fatalities in the nation.
As the investigation continues, Maya’s family and community are left grieving the sudden loss of a life cut short.