Maritza Lara arrested for Father’s Day fatal hit-and-run crash which killed Francisco Rivas
Los Angeles police have arrested the woman who reportedly walked away from the scene of a deadly car in North Hills on Father’s Day as Maritza Joana Lara.
Maritza Joana Lara
Lara, 27, of Van Nuys, fled to Mexico after running a red light and was speeding in a white 2016 Lexus IS200 on June 16, and then struck the driver side of a blue 2005 Nissan Murano on Haskell Avenue and Parthenia Street at about 5:35 a.m.
The driver of that Nissan, Francisco Hernandez Rivas, 48, was killed in the crash and Lara’s four passengers were critically injured.
Police said Lara exited the Lexus, fled the scene on foot and failed to render aid to any injured parties.
Authorities released surveillance footage that showed the accident and what appeared to be the driver of the Lexus walking away from the scene.
Rivas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lara fled the country and was subsequently located and taken into custody in Mexico, with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Marshals Task Force and immigration authorities in Mexico, authorities said.
She was turned over by the U.S. Marshals task force upon her arrival at LAX and arrested on her outstanding warrants related to the fatal crash.
Police said Lara has a prior DUI conviction.
She was at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Los Angeles in lieu of $2.23 million bail, inmate records show.
Lara is set to appear in court on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Detective Lisette Fuentes detailed the case previously with this tweet/statement:
Remember this horrific fatal hit & run crash? The suspect, Maritza Lara, fled the country but is now in police custody, after being located in Mexico. More details will be provided at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday. https://t.co/k2VqenYFiA
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) August 25, 2019
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