Suspect arrested after teen boy loses leg in Boyle Heights hit-and-run crash
LOS ANGELES - Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department announced a suspect has been arrested after a 13-year-old lost one of his legs in a hit-and-run crash in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood in late March.
The suspect, Banning resident Erwin Majano, 29, was arrested April 11, the LAPD announced during a press conference Thursday. He has been charged with felony hit-and-run.
"If you're ever involved in a traffic collision, all you need to do is stop. Make sure the other driver is OK and identify yourself. That's it. That's all that we ask of the community," officials said.
"It's not just the moral imperative of remaining (at a crash scene) -- it's the law," LAPD Deputy Chief Donald Graham said. "And you may think that you're trying to escape from consequences by running from the scene, but -- as these heroes behind me have proven -- with the cooperation of our friends in the media and the community we will find you."
LAPD investigators said on March 30 around 3:30 p.m., Joshua Mora was crossing Whittier Boulevard, within a marked crosswalk, when Majano, traveling eastbound on his motorcycle, crashed right into him.
Video released of the crash shows Majano falling to the ground, as the bike slid approximately 80 feet before stopping. Majano managed to get up, left the scene, and did not stop to help the victim.
Majano was last seen traveling eastbound on Whittier Blvd.
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Mora was taken to a local hospital with severe injuries. According to a GoFundMe created to help with his medical expenses, he lost his leg as a result of the crash. Family members are now trying to help raise funds to help towards his recovery and possibly to help pay for a prosthetic leg.
Police said Mora was a basketball player and had dreams of becoming an NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD Central Traffic Detective Daniel Ramirez, at 213-833-3713 or e-mail 39299@lapd.online. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by going to lacrimestoppers.org.