Los Angeles, Ca
Grandmother hospitalized after hit-and-run slams into her in San Fernando
A grandmother was hospitalized with severe injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in San Fernando.
On May 20, Sonia Mikaelian, 62, was walking on a crosswalk at 5th Street and North Maclay Avenue around 6:20 p.m. when a driver in a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck made a left turn and slammed into the woman on the busy street.
The suspect continued speeding away, leaving the injured woman lying on the road.
“As soon as they hit her, they bolted down the street without any regard,” the victim’s son, Vrej Mikaelian, told KTLA’s Sara Welch.
Sonia was hospitalized with broken bones and other serious injuries and has a long road to recovery.
Vrej said he’s thankful that a group of bystanders immediately rushed over to help his mother. As the driver remains at large, loved ones are doing everything they can to find them.
Vrej said he was frustrated over the lack of updates from law enforcement on the investigation. “There is absolutely no response from them whatsoever,” he said. “Where is the investigation? Where is the reach out to the victims?”
Family members are asking anyone who may have dashcam or surveillance footage of the incident to come forward and provide the evidence to San Fernando police.
They also noted the suspect’s truck has a utility rack and there appeared to be a passenger inside the vehicle.
Ultimately, the woman’s family said they hope the driver will do the right thing and turn themselves in.
“We personally will forgive you for what you have done,” Vrej said. “There are no consequences from us. Just turn yourself in.”
Anyone with information on the case can call the San Fernando Police Department at 818-898-1267.
A Los Angeles man has been charged in connection with a string of catalytic converter thefts across Ventura County, prosecutors announced Friday.
Efran Esau Flores Alvarez, 20, is facing nine felony grand theft charges after investigators linked him to a series of thefts reported in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley between March 20 and April 23, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said Alvarez was arrested on May 19.
During the arrest, investigators allegedly found a hand saw, impact drills, saw blades and a floor jack inside his vehicle, along with more than $5,600 in cash.
Investigators believe Alvarez may be connected to additional catalytic converter thefts throughout Ventura County, and officials said the investigation remains ongoing, adding that more charges could be filed.
Catalytic converter thefts have remained a persistent issue across Southern California in recent years because the devices contain valuable precious metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Simi Valley Police Department investigated the case.
Prosecutors also filed a special allegation claiming the crimes showed “planning, sophistication, or professionalism,” according to court documents.
Alvarez pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody with bail set at $75,000 and is scheduled to return to court June 2 for an early disposition conference.
Firefighters are making significant progress on the flurry of wildfires that ignited across Southern California within the last week, during a period of dry, windy weather.
Firefighters say they’re now in the mop-up phase of battling the region’s largest active wildfire, the Santa Rosa Island Fire. The fire has grown to nearly 18,400 acres since it started on May 15.
The Santa Rosa Island Fire is the largest ever recorded on the Channel Islands. Investigators say the fire was started by an emergency flare fired by a man who crashed his sailboat into the island.
Two uninhabited historic structures have been lost to the fire: The Johnson’s Lee Equipment Shed on the western end of the island, and Wreck Line Camp Cabin on the eastern end, National Park Service officials said.
The Sandy Fire in Ventura County is now 61% contained after burning nearly 2,200 acres in Simi Valley. The fire started on May 18, and has destroyed at least one home.
The Sandy Fire prompted the Simi Valley Unified School District to shutter all of its schools for almost a week. The district announced Friday that the schools will reopen on May 26. The district said that the closures will not result in a longer school year.
“We will not need to extend the school year to make up for the days schools were closed due to the fire emergency,” the Simi Valley Unified School District announced Friday. “The district intends to seek the appropriate state waiver related to attendance and instructional minutes resulting from a widespread public emergency.”
See details for all the major fires burning across Southern California below:
Santa Rosa Island Fire
- Location: Channel Islands National Park
- Size: 18,379 acres
- Containment: 72% contained
- Date started: May 15
Sandy Fire
- Location: Ventura County
- Size: 2,183 acres
- Containment: 61% contained
- Date started: May 18
Bain Fire
- Location: Riverside County
- Size: 1,497 acres
- Containment: 81% contained
- Date started: May 19
Verona Fire
- Location: Riverside County
- Size: 648 acres
- Containment: 67% contained
- Date started: May 19
Tusil Fire
- Location: San Diego County
- Size: 820 acres
- Containment: 100% contained
- Date started: May 19
Alta Fire
- Location: Los Angeles County
- Size: 334 acres
- Containment: 0% contained
- Date started: May 21
Every time Miley Cyrus walks, it’s a walk of fame. However, on Friday, she’s about to make it official.
She will be cemented in Hollywood history by receiving the 2,845th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Smilers, the nickname for Cyrus’s fan base, have been lining up since Thursday night to see the Grammy winner later in the day to accept the honor. It stretches down the block hours before the ceremony.
The “Flowers” singer’s star will be located on 7011 Hollywood Blvd., which is right next to the Marshalls near Madame Tussauds Hollywood.
KOST 103.5 F.M.’s Ellen K will serve as the host of the ceremony. Actress Aya Taylor Joy and fashion designer Donatella Versace are expected to speak.
The ceremony starts at 11:30 a.m. and will also be livestreamed here.
This is an achievement 20 years in the making for the former Disney darling. In 2006, she burst onto the scene as the fictional pop star, Hannah Montana, who was living a dual life. This year, she honored the 20th anniversary of “Hannah Montana” by reuniting with her former castmates for an hour-long special.
Cyrus then became a singer in her own right, blending rock, country, soul, and alternative within her lengthy catalog.
The three-time Golden Globe nominee is also a songwriter behind many platinum and diamond-certified singles and albums.
In 2024, won record of the year and best pop solo performance for “Flowers” at the Grammys. In 2025, her collaboration with Beyoncé received the Grammy for best country duo/group performance.
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