Parents of Hit-and-Run Victim Speak Out After Suspect's Arrest

Police arrested 66-year-old Michael Vuong of Palms on Thursday in the hit-and-run death of 23-year-old David Pregerson in December.

After a four-month investigation into the hit-and-run crash that killed a 23-year-old aspiring filmmaker in the Pacific Palisades, police this week announced the arrest of a suspect.

"I'm grateful to, really the dedication that we've seen from the police,” the victim’s mother Sharon Pregerson said.

David Pregerson was struck by a vehicle around 3 a.m. Dec. 27 near the intersection of Chautauqua Boulevard and Borgos Place while walking home from a bar. He died four days later at a hospital. David Pregerson graduated from UCLA and was the son of a federal judge.

"I believe in our system. I know they've arrested a suspect, and we’ll just let that system play out. It's a good system," the victim’s father Dean Pregerson said.

The suspect, 66-year-old Michael Vuong, was arrested Thursday and will be arraigned Monday. Vuong is a resident of the Palms area of Los Angeles.

The Pregersons and Councilman Mike Bonin had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. It is unclear if the reward led to the arrest of Vuong.

"This incident happened in the dead of night. And there were no witnesses. So it really took a combined effort," Bonin said. "So many of our hit-and-runs never get solved. And people in the Palisades really wanted justice for David Pregerson and for his family."

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The Pregersons said their support system has been vital in getting through the death of their son.

"I have boxes of letters from people, so I think that we live in a wonderful community, "Dean Pregerson said. "In the end when you lose a child, you know, you start realizing that all you really have is your family, your friends and your community."
 

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