The Antelope Valley Times

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Driver ditches vehicle after deadly hit-and-run in Palmdale [update: victim, suspect ID’d]

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The 71-year-old pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which occurred around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, on 20th Street East at the intersection of Avenue R-4 in Palmdale, sheriff's officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
The 73-year-old pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which occurred around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, on 20th Street East at the intersection of Avenue R-4 in Palmdale, sheriff’s officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
PALMDALE – A 73-year-old man was struck and killed by a pickup truck in Palmdale Wednesday afternoon, and investigators are looking for the driver who abandoned the vehicle after the collision, authorities said.

The deadly collision happened around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, on 20th Street East near the intersection of Avenue R-4 in Palmdale, according to Detective Brent Bunch of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

The vehicle that hit the pedestrian was abandoned in the neighborhood west of 20th Street East (near near Maureen Street and Avenue R-1) in Palmdale. Witnesses directed deputies to the vehicle's location, according to a crime broadcast. [LUIS MEZA]
The vehicle that hit the pedestrian was abandoned in the neighborhood west of 20th Street East (near Maureen Street and Avenue R-1). Witnesses directed deputies to the vehicle’s location, according to a crime broadcast. [LUIS MEZA]
“The preliminary facts of this investigation indicate the pedestrian was on 20th Street East crossing from the east sidewalk to the west sidewalk,” Bunch stated. “The vehicle was driving northbound on 20th Street East and collided into the pedestrian.”

The vehicle, a 1991 Ford Ranger pickup, continued northbound on 20th Street East and collided into another vehicle, according to Bunch.

“Both vehicles fled that collision also,” Bunch stated. “The vehicle that hit the pedestrian was abandoned in the neighborhood west of 20th Street East where it was recovered.”

Witnesses directed deputies to the truck’s location near Maureen Street and Avenue R-1, according to a Palmdale Sheriff Station crime broadcast.

The vehicle involved in the second collision returned to the scene, Bunch added.

The pedestrian, a 73-year-old Palmdale resident, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, according to Bunch. His name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification, coroner’s officials said Wednesday night.

“It is unknown if drugs or alcohol was a factor,” Bunch stated.

Traffic was diverted from 20th Street East, between Avenue R and Avenue R-4, until approximately 6 p.m. to allow for the investigation.

Authorities are still looking for the Ford Ranger pickup truck’s driver, Palmdale Sheriff’s Station officials said Wednesday night.

Anyone with information should contact the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station at 661-272-2400.

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UPDATED 9-25-15: The deceased pedestrian has been identified as 73-year-old Alfonso Arias Flores of Palmdale, according to coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

UPDATED 10-6-15: Hakop Karanfelian, 33, turned himself in and was arrested Sept. 24 in connection with the hit-and-run crash, according to local media reports. Karanfelian was charged on Sept. 28 with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter and misdemeanor hit and run driving resulting in property damage, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 19, Santiago said. Karanfelian is currently out of custody on bond, according to LASD inmate records.

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

32 comments for "Driver ditches vehicle after deadly hit-and-run in Palmdale [update: victim, suspect ID’d]"

  1. Harboring a fugitive from Justice is also illegal. I think he is making trouble for his friends. It must be hard driving him around at night, on the down low. This is especially true when his friends didn’t do anything. He could bring his friends down with him by asking for their help to hide him. ;)

  2. Hey, Gina,
    I think you might have your information wrong. Where is the information that he turned himself in? There are no news stories.
    Do you think he might be in the area between 20th East and 25th East and Avenue R?
    Maybe it’s my imagination.

  3. I first like to start off by saying that accidents are accidentsin my condolences go out to both side of thefamilies I knew the person that was in the vehicle driving and he had the biggest heart and was the most loving person ever so all these negative comments are useless he turned himself in because he knew what was the right thing because he had a big heart like that so I think that we should all just keep your comments to yourself stop judging people because they only judge that we have is God my prayers are with you hang in there I hope everything works out your friend always Gina

    • .my condolences to the family and my prayers to the homie .people are hurt and mad its understanding but I agree with Gina these negative comments are useless…

    • Hey, Gina,
      I think you might have your information wrong. Where is the information that he turned himself in? There are no news stories.
      Do you think he might be in the area between 20th East and 25th East and Avenue R?
      Maybe it’s my imagination.

      • Tell your friend to turn himself in. It’s much better for him and anyone who is hiding him. He’s hiding in the same neighborhood, right?

  4. It is becoming apparent that this driver may have turned him or her self in, as noted in a number of comments. It is still hit-and-run if you leave the scene, but regardless, this publication need to verify this and update the story accordingly.

  5. Is there any update to this story? Did they catch the suspect, or is he just freely roaming around the streets of Palmdale?

    Would really appreciate the AV times following up with some of the stories they report.

  7. why do so many people blame the street the people in the Antelope Valley Drive like a bunch of idiots I know that went out at 10 this hit and run was an undocumented .
    since Governor Brown Handed out . licenses hit-and-run have skyrocketed

    • Actually since licensed drivers are easier to ID, they are less likely to hit-and-run. 66% less likely according to the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety. When you make up statistics to fit your misguided narrative, someone often provides a link.

  8. My condolences to the family of the victim. But please DO NOT USE THE WORD KILLER. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT .. A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. LIFES AND FAMILYS HAVE BEEN TORN APART.

    • You can have an accident, but turn in to a killer if you don’t stop. Someone killed this man and continued on to hit another car. KILLER is the right word.

  10. The victim was my dear beloved uncle. He leaves behind a family that has been touched by tragedy multiple times over the last 10 years and to have him die in this manner is incomprehensible to us. I would like to ask anyone reading this story today to please please please share this story on social media- your facebook, twitter and any other social media pages. Get the story out in order to assist with the capture of my uncle’s killer. Anything you can do to share this story in hopes of identifying his killer would be very much appreciated by our family. Thank you for your help in advance!

    • This was a accident n the person who ACCIDENTALLY made the mistake panicked. He 2 was afraid n confused… He made the right decision n turned himself in… He WILL b forgiven by God n that’s what matters…. Don’t pretend like u make the decision CU’s ultimately in the end its God who will make the choice.

      • You people must be related to the person who killed a man and continued about his way. A person with a conscious would stop, and find out what happened. Then he went on to cause another hit and run! Palmdale high students were everywhere!!! They had to witness this too…it could have been one of them. Yes, the jury will decide and it is comprised of US!!!

  11. I hope they catch this SICK PERSON! that was my uncle! R.I.P Tio Alonso
    I live in Orange County so I don’t know know how safe this intersection is! But by reading the reviews! Sounds very unsafe

    • I am one of the Good Samaritans that followed the man in the truck to where he ditched the car. Me, my family and the other Good Samaritan would like to talk to the victims family. Please give me some way to contact them or when the viewing and funeral will be. Thank you.

    • This is a very unsafe strip of road. 20th street east has no lights between Avenue S and Avenue R. Yes, there are yellow lines that indicate cross walks, but those are not safe. Speed is and has always been a factor on this street. It’s around 1 mile just to reach Avenue S or Avenue R. A light should have been put in years ago!

  12. This is so heartbreaking. My husbands grandfather was killed 2 months ago by getting hit by a car. People just dont realize their actions and how much pain it causes the family. Rip to the man may he fly with the angels

  13. This sickens me! There is no where to cross 20th street east between ave S and ave R. The street has no lights in between and traffic does not stop for pedestrians. They swerve around them. Children walk home everyday and run across this street. The only way anything ever changes is when someone dies and residents are outraged. I hope the scumbag that hit this old man gets caught, the mans body was sitting inthe street covered by a sheet for hours. This is so heart breaking.

    • There are crosswalks at 20th and S as well as 20th and R intersections (traffic signals). There should be yellow strips where ppl usually jaywalk speed bumps before these yellow strips and reduced speeds.Esp on Palmdale Blvd …