Driver in L.A. hit-and-run death of Australian man arrested

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11) - The driver in a deadly hit-and-run near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Formosa Avenue in the early hours of April 18, 2019, has been arrested.

He was identified by police as 19-year-old Kristopher Ryan Smith of Norwalk. Smith surrendered himself with legal representation to the Los Angeles Police Department-Hollywood Division, according to police officials.

Smith's bail was set at $50,000.

Investigators say Smith was driving east on Sunset Boulevard at about 1:30 a.m. when he hit 56-year-old Andrew Mallard walking south on Fermosa Avenue without stopping to help. Mallard was an Australian man who had spent 12 years in a Western Australian jail before he was freed after investigators learned he was innocent. He was in L.A. visiting his fiance when he was killed.

Surveillance video from nearby businesses caught Mallard walking into a nearby liquor store to buy a pack of smokes before heading towards a car that looks to be his Uber. When he realizes it isn't, the Australian man begins crossing the seemingly empty street while looking at his phone when suddenly, a silver car speeds down the road and hits him.

A witness runs out onto Sunset waving for help as the silver car keeps going. Mallard was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police did not immediately release additional details and a booking photo of Smith has not been made available. The investigation is ongoing.