Commerce Man in Wheelchair Killed by Vehicle, Possibly Driven by Friend

Coroner's officials identified a man in a wheelchair who was struck and killed by a motorist in Commerce.

The driver of the vehicle, who reportedly knew the victim, stayed at the crash scene and cooperated with investigators.

Richard Gutierrez, 54, was a Commerce resident, according to Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were dispatched at 7:43 a.m. Saturday to Jardine Street and South Atlantic Boulevard, where the pedestrian now identified as Gutierrez was pronounced dead at the scene, a sheriff's lieutenant said.

"It (the death) appeared to be an accident, that is currently under investigation," she said.