Driver on 101 Leaves 2 with Major Injuries, Takes off Running

Originally posted at 9:49 a.m. July 14, 2014. Edited to add photos.

A hit-and-run driver who caused a major injury accident on the northbound Ventura (101) Freeway in Sherman Oaks ran away from the scene, leaving two people with major injuries and two damaged vehicles in the roadway, then evaded an extensive police search this morning, authorities said.

The crash on the northbound Ventura (101) Freeway just east of the San Diego (405) Freeway was reported at 11:53 p.m. Sunday, said California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Polizzi.

The vehicle blamed for the wreck was a black 2003 BMW, said CHP Officer B. Wright.

"It was determined that a black BMW collided with a white Honda causing the Honda to rotate and overturn," Wright said. "The Honda eventually came to rest blocking multiple lanes of traffic; the BMW came to rest against a guard rail," the officer said.

Wright said the driver of the BMW exited the vehicle and fled on foot, triggering what turned out to be an unsuccessful search by the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division and K9 units.

The occupants of the white 2006 Honda were a 41-year-old Woodland Hills woman and a 32-year-old Santa Clarita man who suffered major injuries and were transported to Northridge Hospital for treatment, the officer said.

A SigAlert was in effect for about 50 minutes.

--City News Service