The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

Help detectives find driver in hit-and-run death

by M. Dilworth • May 9, 2013

Grieving family members speak at a press conference to announce the $10k reward for information leading to the arrest of the motorist involved in a hit-and-run crash on March 19 that killed 34-year-old Simone Walker.
Grieving family members speak at a press conference Thursday to announce a $10k reward for information leading to the arrest of the motorist involved in the hit-and-run crash on March 19 that killed 34-year-old Simone Walker. Walker was struck around 7:43 p.m. on Avenue L, near 32nd Street West.

LANCASTER – It’s been more than seven weeks since a Lancaster mother of four was struck by a car as she crossed Avenue L, near the intersection of 32nd Street West. Still, authorities are no closer to finding the driver who fled the scene, leaving 34-year-old Simone Walker to die – which she did, six days later.

Simone Walker is survived by her four children, ages 9 to 16.
Simone Walker is survived by her four children, ages 9 to 16.

“We have no workable information even as to the make or model and color of the vehicle,” said Detective Richard Dailey of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

Officials are turning to the public for help. At a press conference Thursday morning at Lancaster Sheriff’s Station, detectives asked for the public’s assistance in identifying the motorist involved in the collision. They also formally announced a $10,000 reward authorized by the County Board of Supervisors in exchange for information leading to the apprehension and/or conviction of the person responsible for the hit-and-run felony that resulted in the death of Simone Walker.

“She was thrown a significant distance from the vehicle and left broken and bleeding in the street by this calloused driver who drove off without rendering aid or summoning assistance on her behalf,” said Captain Pat Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Detectives have obtained surveillance video from neighboring stores taken at the time of the March 19 collision.

Surveillance video from the time of the collision shows potential witnesses in the immediate area. Authorities are asking the witnesses to come forward.
Surveillance video from the time of the collision shows potential witnesses in the immediate area. Authorities are asking the witnesses to come forward.

The footage, which was captured around 7:43 p.m., shows Walker and another female standing near the southeast corner of 32nd Street West and Avenue L waiting for traffic to clear on the high-speed roadway, Dailey said. The posted speed limit is 50 miles per hour. Walker and the woman were attempting to cross northbound on Avenue L, and the area was dark with ambient lighting, Dailey said.

“The video shows that they got halfway across the roadway, and then they went out of the footage of the video,” Dailey said.

Seconds after, Walker was struck by an unknown vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Avenue L. The second lady was walking a few steps in front of Walker and had already reached a point of safety by the time Walker was hit, Dailey said. The lady heard the sound but could not turn in time to see the vehicle.

“By that time, the vehicle was so far eastbound down the roadway that obviously she would not be able to identify a license plate number for us,” Dailey said.

But other motorists in the area must have seen something, detectives believe.

“There was a moderate amount of traffic on the roadway that evening and so, yes, I’m perplexed as to why someone could not provide information as to the identification of this vehicle,” Dailey said.

The surveillance video also shows pedestrians in the immediate area of the collision, whom detectives are hoping to interview, as well.

Captain Nelson, shown here speaking to Walker's relatives, said he will not rest until the driver is in custody.
Captain Nelson, shown here speaking to Walker’s relatives, said he will not rest until the driver is in custody.

At Thursday’s press conference, Walker’s distraught family members pleaded with the public for assistance in bringing the hit-and-run driver to justice.

“We just don’t understand, why would somebody just hit her and leave her to die in the middle of the street like that?” said Walker’s sister, Michulae Walker. “Somebody please, say something. Let us have some type of closure. Let her kids be able to go to sleep at night.”

Walker leaves behind four children, Troy, 16, Noah, 13, and twins Jayda and Jaylin, 9.

“It is just unconscionable that somebody would drive away and leave her lying in the streets, and we definitely will not rest until that driver is in custody,” said Captain Nelson.

Anyone with information on this hit-and-run collision is urged to contact Sergeant Jennings or Detectives Politano or Dailey at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station at 661-940-3814. Be sure to refer to Report No. 013-04955-1192-470.

A memorial website created by relatives of Walker can be found here.

Previous related stories:

$10k reward offered in deadly hit and run

Family pleads for closure in hit-and-run death

Investigators seek help finding hit-and-run driver

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

4 comments for "Help detectives find driver in hit-and-run death"

  1. Notagain says

    May 10, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    SOUTH OF THE BORDER? NOT KOOL!!! COULD BE ANYONE OUT THERE! IM JUST WONDERING IF THE OTHER PERSON WITH HER SAW WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE HIT THE VICTIM? WHAT COLOR? WHAT MODEL?

  2. da truth says

    May 9, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    NIMBY,

    DONT FORGET NORTH OF THE BORDERS, CALIFOCANADIANS. SO IGNORANT. LETS FIND THE CREEP, WOMAN, OR MAN WHO KILLED SIMONE WALKER. GET OFF THE WEBSITES AND HIT THE STREETS!

  3. NIMBY says

    May 9, 2013 at 5:38 pm

    They might want to start looking for this driver South of the boarder. This is a disturbing trend that is happening here and all over Calimexico.

  4. justbeingreal says

    May 9, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    I think this is great that they are actively searching for this hit and run driver, but what about the driver that hit that 80 year old man on avenue I, why aren’t the same resources being utilized to find his killer????

Recent Comments

  • Tim Scott on Op-ed: Gascón’s recent statements are 100% false: “Do these corrupt ADAs EVER get tired of vomiting out these screeds?” Jun 24, 21:11
  • Tim Scott on Family urges judge not to reverse convicted killer’s death sentence: “Make me, clown. Or be like Mike and type big while packing a pair of BBs.” Jun 24, 20:37
  • Tim Scott on Family urges judge not to reverse convicted killer’s death sentence: “You think someone in prison is in any position to defend themselves? How out of touch with reality are you?…” Jun 24, 20:35
  • Fred on Family urges judge not to reverse convicted killer’s death sentence: “Youand oracle boy can have 500 shots if it helps you two skeeters focus on the actual topic..thaaaanx” Jun 24, 18:02
  • Fred on Family urges judge not to reverse convicted killer’s death sentence: “The irony underwhelms.” Jun 24, 17:59

Copyright © 2022 · The AV Times LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use