Los Angeles: Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Traffic Division are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect involved in a hit and run collision that killed an elderly woman who was looking for her cat.
On December 21, 2017, around 9:53 p.m., Cynthia Szukala, 69 years of age and a resident of Los Angeles, was standing outside of her parked motor home located at the 3700 block of Union Pacific Avenue, when she was stuck by an 18-wheel tractor trailer. The driver of the tractor trailer fled the scene eastbound on Union Pacific Avenue without identifying himself or rendering aid to Ms. Szukala as required by law.
Ms. Szukala suffered severe blunt force injuries to her body and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit and Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members who provide information leading to the offender’s identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD Central Traffic Division Detectives at (213) 833-3713 or Detective Juan Campos at (213) 486-0755. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7(877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
