Nursing student hit, killed by driver doing donuts during LA street takeover

Deaths prompt new reckless driving law

Deaths like those of 24-year-old Elyzza Guajaca in Hyde Park are the motivation behind a new law that will go into effect in the new year

LOS ANGELES - Authorities are searching for an alleged hit-and-run driver in connection with the death of a woman in attendance at a street takeover in the Hyde Park community of South Los Angeles on Christmas night.

The incident happened Sunday around 9 p.m. near the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and West Florence Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The victim, identified by family as 24-year-old Elyzza Guajaca, was standing in the area when she was struck and killed by a car doing donuts in the middle of the intersection, police said. She was taken to a local hospital where she died from her injuries.

"My sister was an aunty to my beautiful girls who loved her so much," her brother Louie Guajaca wrote on a GoFundMe campaign. "She was a beautiful sister who loved big. She was a daughter who always wanted to be with around and have family time. She was the rock to our family."

Nursing student hit, killed by driver doing donuts during LA street takeover

The victim, identified by family as 24-year-old Elyzza Guajaca, was standing in the area when she was struck and killed by a car doing donuts in the middle of the intersection, police said.

Other family told FOX 11 that Elyzza Guajaca was in nursing school and worked at the Los Angeles International Airport. She fell in love with car culture after the first "Fast and Furious" movie came out, and loved events like the one she was at on Sunday.

The driver accused of hitting her left the vehicle at the crash scene and fled on foot, police said.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable President Earl Ofari Hutchinson said he witnessed part of the deadly street takeover Sunday night and called on Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council to declare a state of emergency on such takeovers, similar to the declaration recently issued by the mayor on homelessness.

Woman hit and killed during Hyde Park street takeover

A woman in her twenties was hit and killed while she was walking near a street takeover in Hyde Park. A driver was doing donuts when they lost control.

"Street takeovers present -- as witnessed by the death at Florence and Crenshaw and numerous injuries to life and damage to property at other takeover sites in the city -- a grave problem for city officials, Hutchinson said in a statement. "It has sparked community outrage and demand for stepped up action. A state of emergency will further empower law enforcement and citizens to concentrate time, energy and resources on this deadly problem."

Anyone with any information about the accident was urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. 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.

City News Service contributed to this report.