1 dead in Canoga Park high speed hit-and-run crash: LAPD

LAPD investigating fatal Canoga Park crash

A driver was killed after a high-speed crash in Canoga Park. Witnesses said they weren't sure if it was the result of road rage or street racing. Either way, the LAPD is investigating.

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department was investigating a deadly hit-and-run crash in the San Fernando Valley and detectives are looking into reports that street racing was to blame.

The collision happened at the intersection of Vanowen Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Canoga Park area just before 1:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Witnesses at the scene told authorities they saw two cars, a 2005 silver Toyota Camry and a dark-colored sedan, involved in some type of street race or road rage incident before the deadly collision. They added the two cars were speeding southbound down Topanga Canyon Blvd. from Sherman Way when the driver of the dark-colored sedan allegedly hit the Camry, which caused the driver to lose control and slam into a light pole.

The driver of the Camry was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles City firefighters. His name has not been released pending next of kin notification. Meanwhile, the second driver drove away from the scene.

"We try to give advice to our drivers not to speed, to be cautious…we keep seeing these fatalities and this one could’ve been preventable," said LAPD Traffic Det. Lisset Fuentes. "There’s no reason to be driving recklessly. Luckily, there were no pedestrians, but if there were pedestrians on the crosswalk, this could’ve been a lot worse."

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Witnesses said they believed the second vehicle was an older model dark-colored Mercedes-Benz.

Investigators continue to canvas the area for surveillance footage.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Officer Michael Sison at 818-644-8022 or Officer Freeman at 818-644-8115. Those who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips online to LA Crime Stoppers.