Driver arrested for manslaughter after fatally striking jogger in Walnut

WALNUT, Calif. (KABC) -- An arrest has been made in connection to the death of a pedestrian who was hit by a car in Walnut Monday morning.

Authorities said around 5:50 a.m., a male jogger was struck near the corner of La Puente Road and Citadel Drive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car was arrested for vehicular manslaughter, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The suspect ended up crashing into a brick wall in the backyard of a home in the 20200 block of Barnard Avenue, just near the intersection. The driver survived but was hospitalized for unknown injuries.

Neighbors described hearing a loud sound, and thought it may have been an earthquake. When Lijian Li rushed outside to see what had happened, he said he didn't immediately see the victim, but he spoke to the driver.

"He said, 'call 911, my god, my god,' something like that, so I called 911," Lijian Li said.

When the driver hit the jogger, authorities said the man was thrown onto the hood of the car, carried several yards and then knocked off when the car smashed through the brick wall.

Homicide detectives will determine the nature of the crash during the investigation.

The victim's identity was not released. The driver's name was also not released pending the investigation.

Anyone with more information was asked to call the LASD Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.