A man accused of being involved in a hit-and-run crash in Santa Monica that killed a Vietnam veteran is now in custody, authorities said.
Rod Sharif, 30, was arrested Friday at his home in Santa Monica Canyon five days after the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Wilshire and Chelsea avenues, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. He was booked on suspicion of murder and felony hit-and-run, police said.
Video and information shared by Santa Monica police show that the victim was walking in a crosswalk on Wilshire Boulevard around 6:40 pm on Sunday when he was hit by a white Toyota RAV4 and thrown several times. feet in the air. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her name has not been released. Authorities identified her only as a Santa Monica resident and Vietnam War veteran.
Rod Sharif, 30, was arrested Friday.
(Santa Monica Police Department)
Witnesses saw a car speed away from the scene of the accident, prompting police to launch a multi-day search and seek the public’s help in identifying the driver. Traffic investigators identified Sharif and served a search and arrest warrant at his home on Friday, police said.
Police said they recovered several pieces of evidence from his residence, including a white Toyota RAV4 with severe front-end damage.
Sharif had previously been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and reckless driving, according to authorities.
