Crime & Safety
Driver Killed In Victory Blvd Racing Crash ID'd; Second Racer Wanted
Police hope someone will come forward with information about a BMW driver involved in a street race that killed a 52-year-old Van Nuys man.
LAKE BALBOA, CA — Authorities Friday identified a man killed in a street racing crash in the San Fernando Valley over the weekend.
Richard Mortiz, 52, was killed in a solo car crash in the Lake Balboa area, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. Los Angeles police believe Mortiz, a Van Nuys resident, was racing another driver at the time of the crash. Police are asking anyone with information about the second driver to come forward.
The crash occurred about 12:30 a.m. Saturday on westbound Victory Boulevard near Encino Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department reported.
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According to an LAPD statement, Mortiz was driving a Tesla sedan when he "encountered a BMW sedan and engaged in speed racing traveling westbound Victory Boulevard, east of White Oak Avenue at a high rate of speed."
"The driver of the Tesla lost control near Victory Boulevard and Encino Avenue, running off the roadway and colliding with a light pole and a tree," police said.
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"The driver of the BMW stopped, and without exiting the vehicle, observed the aftermath of the collision and sped off westbound Victory Boulevard," police said.
The BMW driver is wanted for "engaging in speed racing and felony hit-and-run," according to the LAPD. Investigators did not release a description of the driver.
The vehicle was described as a purple or dark blue, 2011 to 2015 BMW M3 or M5 that has been lowered and has a modified exhaust and built-in spoiler.
A standing reward of up to $50,000 has been offered by the city of Los Angeles for information that helps authorities solve a fatal hit and run.
Anyone with information on the case was asked to contact LAPD Detective Barragan at 818-644-8028 or Detective Davis at 818-644-8032. Calls made during non-business hours or on weekends can be directed to 877-LAPD-247. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.
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