A driver has been arrested in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 60-year-old woman who stopped to help a cat lying in a street in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area, police said Tuesday.
The deadly incident unfolded around 2:50 a.m. Monday after the woman stopped her vehicle on Crenshaw Boulevard near Coliseum Street, where she had spotted the feline in the road. She put on her hazard lights, got out of the car and went to care for the cat, according to the Los Angeles Police Department news release.
While the woman tended to the animal, another vehicle traveling southbound swerved to avoid slamming into the victim’s car and ended up hitting her instead, police said.
The driver of that car — identified as 26-year-old Kateara Treggs of Inglewood — pulled over, got out and recovered a car part that had fallen off her vehicle in the collision, according to the release. Police allege Treggs saw the dying woman down on the roadway, but instead of rendering aid, she left.
The victim was later pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not been released yet.
Treggs was arrested around 6:30 a.m. Monday and booked into jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, according to police.
LAPD also tracked down the vehicle and said they are holding it for evidence.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call officers Mitchell or Pollard at 323-421-2500, or the South Traffic Division’s Watch Commander at 323-421-2570, or LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
Anonymous tips can also be left by dialing 1-800-800-222-8477 or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.