VIDEO: Santa Ana hit-and-run crash kills motorcyclist

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Santa Ana hit-and-run crash kills motorcyclist
Surveillance video captured a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in Santa Ana.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Authorities were searching for a van wanted in a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in Santa Ana on Friday. Santa Ana police released surveillance video that captured the deadly collision.

Officials said the crash happened at the intersection of Standard Avenue and Walnut Street at about 5:15 p.m.

Surveillance video showed a white Ford utility van failing to yield while making a left turn from Standard Avenue onto Walnut Street.

VIDEO: Santa Ana police urge suspect in fatal hit and run to surrender

Santa Ana police said the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash made matters worse by fleeing the scene.

The motorcyclist, identified by officials as 36-year-old Eduardo Estrada-Luevano of Santa Ana, attempted to brake in time, but came up on his front tire before smashing into the right-front panel of the van.

"When you see him with the front wheel up in the air, it was kind of like a slingshot into a solid object," Cpl. Anthony Bertagna with the Santa Ana Police Department explained.

Authorities said the van fled the scene following the crash.

"Didn't even slow down," Bertagna said. "It obviously would've made a loud bang. Why he didn't stop, I don't understand. He left this individual laying in the street."

Estrada-Luevano was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives said it appeared Estrada-Luevano was just minutes away from his home when he was struck.

"This individual made a mistake. Lets not compound it any further. Turn yourself in," Bertagna said. "He would've been at fault for the accident because he failed to yield the right away to oncoming traffic, however, that would've been the extent of it. Now he's looking at much more serious crimes."

If you have any information that could aid detectives in their investigation, you were urged to call the Santa Ana Police Department at (714) 245-8665.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the Estrada-Luevano family. To learn how to donate, click here.