A child and an adult died after the Playa del Rey collision.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles police searched Monday for a hit-and-run driver after a crash in Playa del Rey killed a 1-year-old child and a man and injured a woman.
The two-vehicle crash happened about 4:30 a.m. Sunday near the 6800 block of South Vista Del Mar. Police said the driver of one vehicle ran from the wreck toward the beach. Investigators described the suspect vehicle as a white Jeep and said the driver was believed to be a 25-year-old man.
One of the vehicles had three people inside, including the child. A man estimated to be about 30 years old died at the scene. The child and a 27-year-old woman were taken to a nearby hospital. The child later died from injuries, police said.
The victims’ names had not been released while authorities worked to notify relatives. Police had not said what caused the collision, whether speed or impairment was suspected, or whether the Jeep had been found. The woman’s full condition was not immediately clear.
Cory Cooper, who lives nearby, said he rushed outside after hearing the crash and found bystanders already trying to help. He said he called 911 and performed CPR on the child with guidance from emergency dispatchers. “It’s something you don’t wish on anybody, but that was awful,” Cooper said.
The crash added to a grim scene along Vista Del Mar, a coastal road near homes, beach access points and Los Angeles International Airport. Investigators continued collecting statements and evidence from the area as they worked to trace the Jeep and the person who left the crash.
The case remained open Monday, with police seeking the driver and more details about the moments before the fatal collision.
Author note: Last updated May 4, 2026.