Man Arrested on Suspicion of Fleeing Traffic Fatality Scene

Sylmar resident Exiquivel Rivera knew something terrible had happened when the car he was driving hit a pedestrian who was crossing Van Nuys Boulevard in Panorama City late Friday.

But the 22-year-old Salvadoran immigrant got himself in a lot of trouble by trying to flee the accident in the 9300 block of Van Nuys Boulevard near Tupper Street, Los Angeles Police Officer Richard Prindle said Saturday.

Rivera was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. Police said he fled the scene after 44-year-old Edward Fresser of Panorama City was fatally injured. But Prindle, who arrested Rivera, said the driver would not have faced criminal charges if he had stopped at the scene and cooperated with police.

Fresser, whose blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit for drunkenness, was taken to Panorama Community Hospital where he died as a result of massive head and neck injuries, Officer Bill Mulvihill said. Witnesses told police that the pedestrian darted across the street and Rivera had no way to avoid him, Prindle said.

“The guy ran out in front of him so fast that he didn’t have a chance to hit the brakes; he swerved but it wasn’t enough,” Prindle said.

Five people in two cars saw the 9 p.m. accident and pursued Rivera about one mile to the 14200 block of Pierce Street near Obeck Avenue in Pacoima. It was there that Rivera pulled over and surrendered to his pursuers, who then called 911 from a nearby home.

“He’s from another country and he didn’t understand what to do,” Prindle said. “He knew he did something wrong but he didn’t know how to rectify the situation except to run away.”

Rivera was released on $5,000 bail at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, police said.