Man Struck by Drunk Driver on Santa Monica Blvd

Eyewitnesses reported that a man was struck and killed by an allegedly drunk driver in a Maserati early this morning, at roughly 2:00 a.m. However, the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the man is currently in critical condition.

The incident occurred on Santa Monica Boulevard between Larrabee Street and Palm Avenue in front of Trunks Bar. Santa Monica Boulevard was closed to moving traffic this morning while West Hollywood Sheriff’s investigated the scene.

Video footage on the Citizen App by the handle @yomama27, show a discarded boot on the street and a small bundle of shredded clothes by the median several feet away on Santa Monica Boulevard. There was also evidence of blood.

“Felony DUI Traffic Collison/Driver arrested – Deputies responded to 8900 Santa Monica Boulevard regarding a traffic collision call” Lieutenant William Moulder told WEHO TIMES. “It was determined a vehicle was traveling westbound on Santa Monica Boulevard when the vehicle struck a male pedestrian in the middle of the roadway. The male driver pulled over next to the pedestrian who he had struck and waited for Deputies to arrive. When Deputies arrived to the traffic collision, the pedestrian was not conscious or breathing and was transported to hospital in critical condition. The driver was arrested for DUI.”

The man was struck by a white Maserati on the eastbound lane of Santa Monica Boulevard. According the witness who gave a detailed report on Citizen, the alleged drunk driver of the Maserati failed a sobriety test. He was seen being handcuffed and taken into custody.

The victim was first believed to be an unhoused individual, however Sheriff Deputies discovered the victim’s car, which was parked a few feet away from where the man was hit. A deputy sifted through the victim’s clothes, which had been cut off the man’s body by paramedics. He found a cell phone and a set of car keys in the man’s pocket. The deputy pressed the car key alarm button, which set off the alarm activation from a parked vehicle nearby. According to the witness on Citizen, he saw a child’s car seat in the trunk, but it is not clear of the victim is a father or if he is an Uber driver who are known to carry car seats to accommodate children passangers.

Santa Monica Boulevard was closed to moving traffic from San Vicente Boulevard to Huntley Drive. The westbound lane opened at around 7:30 a.m. All lanes opened to traffic in both directions at around 9:00 a.m.

This piece was updated to confirm that the man was not killed on the scene and is currently in critical condition.