Comedian Perry Kurtz killed in hit-and-run crash in Tarzana

TARZANA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Comedian Perry Kurtz was killed in a hit-and-run crash Thursday in Tarzana, and an 18-year-old driver has since been arrested.

The collision was reported at 11:20 p.m. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Kurtz was crossing Ventura Boulevard near Corbin Avenue and was struck by a driver in a grey Honda Civic.

Witnesses told police the driver struck Kurtz and sped away from the scene, an LAPD spokesman said. Police found the Civic with damage to its front end and a smashed windshield about a half a mile from the crash scene.

Nathon Jaimes, 18, was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death. He was released at about 8:43 a.m. Friday on $30,000 bail, according to online jail records.

Kurtz was a familiar face in the L.A. comedy scene. In recent years, Kurtz continued to perform throughout the San Fernando Valley, including at Corbin Bowl's open mic night each Thursday, which is produced by comedian Ryan Talmo.

He said Kurtz was across the street singing karaoke Thursday night.

"He went across the street to the bowling alley to say hi to us. We do comedy across the street, came to say hi to his friends and he was hanging out with us for like 15 minutes and then he came across the street, came back to sing some more karaoke ... apparently someone hit him on Ventura," said Talmo.

News of Kurtz's death came as a shock to comedian Bruce Baum, who worked with the 73-year-old starting in the mid-80's.

"He was one of those guys that, regardless of how things were going, he was always very positive," said Baum. "He never gave up. He's always doing comedy or karaoke."

Talmo described Kurtz as "funny" and someone who "loved making people laugh."

"He loved being around people," recalled Talmo.

The LAPD's Valley Traffic Division is investigating the collision.