The Los Angeles Police Department reported that a vehicle entering the shopping centre from Van Nuys Boulevard struck Saravia-Bonilla then drove away across the shopping center heading east
Panorama City, CA- Authorities have released the identity of the woman struck and killed by a vehicle at The Plant Shopping Centre in Panorama City on Friday morning.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, 40-year-old Marlene Saravia-Bonilla was killed in the collision that happened on Van Nuys Boulevard at about 4:55 a.m. December 26.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported that a vehicle entering the shopping centre from Van Nuys Boulevard struck Saravia-Bonilla then drove away across the shopping center heading east.
A description of the hit-and-run motorist or vehicle involved was not immediately available.
Crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and Saravia-Bonilla was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The search for the hit-and-run motorist is ongoing. Anyone with information relating to the accident may contact the LAPD Valley Traffic Division at 818-644-8020 or 818-644-8255. Calls made during non-business hours of weekends should be made to 877-527-3247. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles consistently records a high volume of traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities compared to other California cities, though recent data indicates a downward trend in total victims and an improvement in the city’s relative ranking according to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). Historically, Los Angeles held the worst (1/15) OTS ranking in 2018 and 2019, with over 35,000 victims killed and injured annually. The numbers have significantly decreased since then, with 8,944 victims killed or injured in 2022, which improved the city’s ranking to 14/15 (where a lower rank indicates worse safety performance). Preliminary data suggests traffic-related deaths in the city have remained high in recent years, with 336 fatalities in 2023. Key crash factors identified by the OTS and related data sources include unsafe speed and impaired driving, which remain primary causes of serious and fatal collisions. Vulnerable road users are disproportionately affected; pedestrians account for over one-third of traffic deaths. In 2022, there were 1,524 pedestrian and 475 bicyclist victims killed or injured in Los Angeles. The city has implemented the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025, focusing on infrastructure improvements and policy changes.
Seek Legal Help from Pacific Attorney Group
Pacific Attorney Group hopes and prays that the family of the person killed in this crash will find peace during these difficult moments. If your loved one died in this pedestrian accident, you may have the right to seek compensation for the wrongful death of your family member. To learn more about your legal options, visit our Los Angeles car accident lawyer page.