LANCASTER – A 43-year-old driver who allegedly collided with a bicyclist and then drove away is facing a felony charge in connection with the incident.
Towana Byers was charged Tuesday with one count of leaving the scene of an injury accident, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.
Sheriff’s officials have released little details about the collision, which occurred Sunday evening (July 6) near 3rd Street East and Avenue I in Lancaster. However, the collision was witnessed by several bystanders at the 7-Eleven convenience store on the corner.
Witnesses said a bicyclist crossing Avenue I collided with a white Dodge Durango headed westbound on Avenue I at a high rate of speed. The bicyclist rolled onto the hood of the SUV, smashed the windshield, bounced off the roof and landed on the street; but the SUV driver kept going, the witnesses said.
A Good Samaritan followed the Durango through a nearby residential neighborhood and directed deputies to the Durango’s location, according to a Lancaster Sherrif’s Station crime broadcast.
Deputies caught up to the Durango near 5th Street East and Avenue H-14, about three miles away from the collision scene. Byers was arrested around 6:51 p.m. Sunday, and she has remained jailed since her arrest, according to Lancaster Station jail records.
The injured bicyclist was transported to a local hospital. His name and the extent of his injuries have not been released.
UPDATED: Byers has been released from jail on bond, according to LASD inmate records.
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princess says
Well like said she never meant to hurt anyone in tha kid aint dead he is alive walkin in talkin in it was his fault not hers in who is makin excauses accidents happen every day it just different times in differnt places but no one can tell tha story if u wasent there in like I said she appoligezs deeply no need to go back in fourth wit u all shes covered by tha blood of jesus in he is to so god bless u all
princess says
Well that is ma best friend in she never meant to hurt anyone she suffers from panic attics in when tha boy who ran tha red light when it was her time to go it was to late to stop in she had a panic attic she is a very sweet kind hearted person in would give her last to anyone she was rushed to thahospital also in was treated she was unaware of tha accident in couldnt tell wat happen in for those who callin her a scum that is wat she is not she is a blessed lady in she never meant to hurt tha boy prayers go out to him in ms byers is covered by tha blood of jesus in god is by her side in she does apoligize in I apoligize for her in god bless u all
no excuse says
she shouldn’t have been driving if she was having a panic attack. she shouldn’t have left the scene after killing this kid.
Dympillzz says
The kid that got hit is my little cousin and I’m sorry to whom ever gets offended but I don’t feel sorry for that women at all. I hope she rots in a jail cell. How can someone be so stupid to flee the scene after hitting a kid on bike and think its okay to bounce…. Put down the pipe home girl your smoked out the game….
marcus says
You shouldn’t be so cruel; things happen all the time it could have happen to you. Sometimes you do panic. Especially when the whole situwation was a shock.totally unaware. And this women has Never been A user of any drugs.And did not mean any harm.if your just looking in at the situwation. Its sounds bad.but god says never to judge.I know for A fact she A great loving person.
MR. PERPLEXED says
SO TRUE, THINGS DO HAPPEN AND YES, PEOPLE PANIC BUT YOU STOP! EVEN IF ITS THREE OR FOUR BLOCKS AWAY YOU DO STOP, SPECIALLY HAVING A BUSTED WINDSHIELD WITH BLOOD ALL OVER IT! BUT YOU DONT PANIC TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO GET AWAY BY RUNNING FROM THE LAW HALF WAY THROUGH THE CITY, IF IT WASNT FOR THE BUSTED FRONT TIRE SHE WOULD HAVE KEPT ON GOING ENDANGERING MORE LIVES. SO NOPE NO EXCUSES HERE!
Niqke says
I know the person who got hit and he is a good person and this is a tragedy what happened to him I dont care what anyone says what she did was wrong and she didn’t even stop to see if he was alright or to call an ambulance…..what ever comes to her should happen to her because that was very cruel…..my prayer is with my friend whom is recovering…..
K_Anonymous says
I know this woman personally. I feel sorry for both ends of this situation. The people in the comments are the one who are heartless. I don’t think it was right for her not to stop because it made the situation worse, but none of you know her mental capacity nor how this is hurting both families. Saying all of this negative stuff is not going to reverse or solve anything. Prayers going out to both families. I really hope this kid is okay. God bless you all
Nancy P says
Really? There is no excuse for not stopping, or at least calling 911. She did neither. If she is so fragile, why is she driving a 2 thousand pound vehicle? Jail time is what she needs. Her family, of course, is all shook up.. probably wondering how they’re gonna get out of this jam.
Ohmy says
You are so right Nancy! I’m thinking there was no license, insurance, and was giving permission to drive from the owner.
JUNE says
If it was an accident she should have stopped, period! Accidents happen! With the extent of the damage she should’ve known it was bad and it’s sad that she drove off. I’m glad the victim is still alive and the suspect was caught.
Ashley says
But it wasn’t a accident.
William says
What if California decided to make everyone take an intensive driving course to get their first license or renew their next one? It would include high speed maneuvers, panic stops, skids on wet pavement and other tests on a special course? It might cost a lot of money to take the course and test.
That silly little driving test we’ve been taking since forever isn’t appropriate for 2014. Do they still make you parallel park but no freeway test? It’s ridiculous and no wonder there are so many accidents.
The problem is that people aren’t very well trained to drive nowadays and keep their bad habits unless they have an accident or get a ticket. Then, they probably resume them in a year or so.
All the nagging and suggestions about how to drive safely are falling on deaf ears.
Of course, there would be a lot of bellyaching about it because the bellyachers are usually the ones that need the training the most.
Eric says
They don’t do parallel parking anymore. Now they pull up against a curb and have you back up a short distance. I don’t think it matters how well people are trained, its that impatience behind the wheel and the false sense of security some vehicles provide.
It is common place for people to decide the best way to protect their young drivers is to enclose them in a tank and set them loose. There is also the issue, similar with the schools, of people simply being trained to pass the test instead of applying the skills.
There was a posting in the Craigslist rant sections regarding a truck on the 14 Friday night driving erratically; all to common. Not talking the big rigs either, I’m talking the guys with the jacked up Chevy’s that drive like their heading towards an emergency or are king of the road.
CB says
Speed limits, speed bumps may help BUT the individual driving has to have some human decency to make these measures effective.
Towana Byers obviously has no decency.
Sean says
The speed limits are not the problem. It’s the crazy drivers and the people who use the Bike Lanes incorrectly driving AGAINST traffic. It’s the numbskulls not walking on the shoulders or sidewalks. It’s the goofballs who on scooters and mopeds driving in the Bike Lanes. It’s the reprobates jaywalking, in the dark within 50 feet of a crosswalk because they are too lazy.
Blaming the speed limit for a collision caused by negligence is shameful and an obfuscation.
anonymous says
Typical lancaster scum. Go back to LA where you came from.
Outspoken says
It’s people like you that make this world the way it is! No where in the article does it say she is from LA!
AV res says
Well we can all agree this valley has turned to scum thanks to the LA trash, & a scummy move like this would be typical of said “LA trash.” Thus, the assumption.
Common Sense says
Speed limits might be a problem in AV…but that’s not the issue here. No decent person would hit someone ..and then drive off. I repeat….no DECENT person !!
Compassion says
Common Sense, I couldn’t agree with you more. What a cowardly thing to do. People who do things like that obviously have something to hide and no moral compass.
Justice! says
Justice needs to be serve! Hit an run? Hope she has insurance!
danny says
really come on she does not have it!
Breeanna says
No matter what the city changes the speed limits too if people want to speed they will speed regardless of what the sign says the limit is! Everyone just needs to take the privilege we have to own a motor vehicle more seriously!
Katty says
This is so stupid. The speed limit isn’t the problem. Accidents do happen. This woman hit him and KEPT DRIVING. She could’ve stopped and made sure he wasn’t dead, she could’ve called the cops. She had no good enough reason to just keep going. It’s not fair. And I’m sorry to the man’s family who has to go through this.
Evilpodd says
“Accidents”, as you say, are making the assumption that nobody is to blame and here there clearly is.
Not an accident.
It’s a collision & hit and run.
Van says
Change speed limit!
jorge herrera says
Speed limit is 45′ what you want ? 25?
Tkave says
Totally agree! The speed limits in the Antelope Valley were set when there were HALF the people here! Our streets are WAY to fast to share the road safely with pedestrians and bicycles! City leaders, are you listening?
Tim says
It has nothing to do with speed limits. It is all about lack of respect for anyone other then themselves. Towana Byers is a perfect example of typical Antelope Valley scum.
Truth says
Thank You! Couldn’t have said it better myself! Pure entitlement-minded scum!
CB says
Unfortunately, you’re both probably correct…
Deb says
I’ve been saying this for years. The speed limits were set when High Desert was just that DESERT. I heard in the Antelope Valley you are more like to die in a car accident then a homicide.
AV resident says
Nothing to do with speed its just people don’t pay attention and pedestrians and some bicyclist think they will stop traffic in a second its all carelessness. Read papers from other cities even with speeds of 35MPH they still have this problem people should use designated crosswalks and it might help avoid this problem.
Av resident says
rooney I also agree with you we need speed bumps on many streets out here I also live near you on L8 and man do people speed.
MarciaMars says
Obviously using crosswalks and lights don’t work. Work the way all people should follow rules even. Drivers. Look what happened with. The sweet 2 yr old crossing at a crosswalk with her mom hit by a big rig truck and killed a couple weeks ago on AvenJ. Valley Central Way in Lancaster…so drivers there are rules if you dont follow people get. Hurt. Or even die…
dumbandblind says
Speed limit is not the problem criminals are.
rooney says
I agree with you A&P. I live on the west side near Vons. We’ve had the cops watching but nothing done. One car drives about 50 down my street. I want speed bumps like Burbank. They don’t cause accidents. People cause accidents!
Saints says
Could almost bet this person was driving without car insurance.. seen this a lot lately, why does the law is so strict/harsh with some people.. while others can do whatever they want… I was threaten by (DMV) of getting my license revoked/suspended and fined because my insurance company didn’t get them (dmv) my information promptly “I was like please I live in the valley and know about all this people that drive without insurance so you can KMFA….
American and proud says
IM proud of that person who followed that piece of [removed] !! reckless drivers all over the antelope valley never seen so many careless drivers it’s sickening. We need more speed bumps in my neighborhood Ave p Westside. SMH I hope that person learns a lesson an gets mental help.