USC Student Killed and Other Injured By Hit & Run Driver

UPDATE
April 18, 2009

The second suspect in connection with the fatal hit-and-run of a USC student has been arrested and taken into custody early this morning.  On April 17, 2009, at around 5:30 p.m., Josue Luna, 32, was attempting to cross into the U.S. from the Mexican border when a computer alerted Border Patrol agents that he was wanted by the Los Angeles Police Department.  After the agents notified the LAPD, officers from the LAPD Fugitive Unit, picked up Luna and transported him to 77th Division Jail for booking.  Luna was booked for accessory to a crime and his bail was set at $50,000.  On April 18, 2009, at 12:00 noon, Luna posted bail.
 

UPDATE
April 3, 2009

At a 4 p.m. press conference this afternoon, it was announced that 30-year-old South Los Angeles resident Claudia Cabrera was arrested around 9:30 p.m. last night as the driver of the car involved in the fatal hit-and-run incident described below.  She has been booked for Gross Vehicular Manslaughter and her bail has been set at $1 million.  Cabrera also hit Marcus Garfinkle, a friend of the deceased victim.  Police are searching for Cabrera’s husband, 31-year-old Josue Luna, who may have been the passenger who got out of the suspect’s car to remove Garfinkle’s seriously injured body from the car’s windshield onto the ground.  Cabrera’s car is still missing and described as a green 2000 Infinity four-door sedan (Calif. license plate 6DUG665).  Luna is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs about 245 pounds and has a “stocky” build with a shaved head.

A suspect has been arrested in this hit-and-run incident. More details to follow in a news conference planned for this afternoon. Time and location of news conference to be announced shortly.

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify the driver and passenger of a vehicle that struck two USC students, while they were walking in a crosswalk early Sunday morning, killing 18 year-old Adrianna Bachan and seriously injuring her 19 year-old male friend.

On March 29, 2009, at around 3:00 a.m., two University of Southern California students were walking southbound on Jefferson Boulevard at Hoover Street.  Both students were in a marked crosswalk when they were hit by a black, 1999-2002 Honda Accord or Toyota Corolla, travelling eastbound on Jefferson Boulevard.

According to a witness, the driver stopped the vehicle and a passenger got out of the vehicle to remove one of the students from the hood onto the ground.  The passenger was described as a male Hispanic.  The passenger got back into the suspect car and the driver drove eastbound on Jefferson Boulevard.  There may be damage to the hood and windshield of the vehicle.

Both Victims were transported to a local hospital by the Los Angeles City Fire Paramedics.  Bachan was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.  The male student was hospitalized in stable condition. 

Los Angeles Police Department South Traffic Division detectives are handling the investigation.  Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Detectives Render at 323-290-6063.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD."  Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Comments

[Jose Ortiz]

The police will have to go to Mexico to catch the driver because I bet he is in the US illegally!

[Denise De Vore]

I hope those who damaged the lives of two families are sent to jail forever (although vermin like that should be exterminated!). I feel deeply sorrowed for the death of Adrianna and the injuries of my nephew, Marcus. I ask for everyone's prayers and support for Adrianna's family and for my sister and her son. I believe in Karma and what goes around, comes around. So, pay it forward...

[george]

Always look both ways 4 times before leaving the curb. I was traversing a walk way in Pacoima (what the hell was I doing their?) With a stroller with my 6 month old child a car stopped so i continued to find a van on the other side of vehicle could not see us moving toward the walk way and almost killed use as we passed the vehicle that stopped .Show your children as I do the importance of traffic. I tell like in “motorcycle safety " expect that the cars do not see you and pass like a NINGA. I feel for the family for there lose. I write wishing to help future pedestrians

[ed]

Can we please see photos of the Cabrera and Juna suspects? They have been caught so the photos are here.

[Torrean Jackson]

The cold thing about this is I know this young lady. You all know her name is Claudia, but I bet you didn't know she was a school teacher also. This was a very unfortunate event. She was my niece's teacher at a private school in Los angeles.