L.A. Offers $50,000 Reward for Hit-and-Run Information

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a $50,000 reward Friday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run driver responsible for the death of an 84-year-old pedestrian.

Asghar Abbassi was fatally injured about 6 a.m., Aug. 26. Police said he was using a walker and was struck in a White Oak Avenue crosswalk at Valerio Street.

The hit-and-run vehicle was described as a 2003-2005 black Nissan 350Z. No description was available of the driver.

"We have certain information, but we desperately need to give incentive for members of the community to come forward with information that will lead to actually finding this person," LAPD Officer Jennifer Ward said.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who introduced the reward motion, said that when the driver "fled the scene without stopping to render aid and identify himself to authorities or do anything a decent person would do in that situation ... that driver ceased to become potentially involved in an accident and basically became a fugitive and a murderer."

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call  (877) LAPD-247.

--City News Service