Los Angeles, Ca
Hit-and-run driver leaves trail of devastation on Southern California street
Residents in an Encino neighborhood are hoping for justice after the driver of a pickup truck crashed into a half dozen parked cars over the weekend and then fled the scene, leaving behind heavily damaged vehicles and big repair bills for the car owners.
The Aug. 10 incident unfolded at around 5 a.m. on Killion Street between Zelzah and Newcastle avenues.
In surveillance footage of the incident, the driver can be seen barreling down Killion Street when he collides with the first parked car, the impact lifting the passenger side wheels of the truck off the ground as it violently grinds down the row of cars.
As the truck continues, the driver’s side wheels also bounce off the ground, the vehicle eventually coming to a stop after impact with yet another parked car.
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Hit-and-run driver in Encino seen crashing into a row of parked cars on Aug. 10, 2024. (William Mallon) -
Hit-and-run driver in Encino seen crashing into a row of parked cars on Aug. 10, 2024. (William Mallon) -
Hit-and-run driver in Encino seen crashing into a row of parked cars on Aug. 10, 2024. (William Mallon) -
Hit-and-run driver in Encino seen crashing into a row of parked cars on Aug. 10, 2024. (William Mallon) -
Hit-and-run driver in Encino seen crashing into a row of parked cars on Aug. 10, 2024. (William Mallon) -
Damage seen to several vehicles on an Encino street after the were struck by a hit-and-run driver on Aug. 10, 2024. (KTLA) -
Damage seen to several vehicles on an Encino street after the were struck by a hit-and-run driver on Aug. 10, 2024. (KTLA) -
Damage seen to several vehicles on an Encino street after the were struck by a hit-and-run driver on Aug. 10, 2024. (KTLA) -
Damage seen to several vehicles on an Encino street after the were struck by a hit-and-run driver on Aug. 10, 2024. (KTLA) -
A flyer distributed by one of the victims of a hit-and-run driver in Encino on Aug. 10, 2024. (KTLA)
“We’re not sure if it’s an F150 or an F250, but one of the two came down this street,” one of the vehicle’s owners, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade. “At a certain point, the driver seemed to lose control from the footage we’ve seen, and he started bouncing off the row of cars.”
It was only three weeks ago that he and his wife purchased their red SUV, which sustained considerable damage in the hit-and-run crash.
“He hit about five cars before he crashed on this red SUV over here and that’s when he just stopped bouncing,” he said. “He pushed that [car] kind of into the sidewalk and into the gray sedan in front of it.”
In the footage, the driver, who is wearing long shorts and has what appears to be a ponytail, exits the vehicle and walks around the front of the truck to get a look at the damage before jumping back behind the wheel and leaving the area.
“All five cars are heavily damaged,” the SUV owner added. “I don’t know if they’ve officially ruled them totaled yet, but they’re not drivable.”
The couple lives down the street from where the crash occurred and were unaware that their SUV had been hit until several hours after the hit-and-run, when the wife had plans to go somewhere.
“It was very upsetting,” she said. “It was devastating to come out here and see my car like that. It’s one of my worst nightmares, honestly, to lose my vehicle.”
The couple filed a police report and placed flyers around the neighborhood in hopes that someone can identify the driver who caused the costly mayhem.
“If anybody recognizes this person from the footage, contact somebody,” the man said. “If you see one of the flyers, contact the number or email address on that or the police.”
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
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