Police Allege Woman Was Checking Messages When Her Vehicle Hit, Killed 65-Year-Old Man

What to Know

A 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly checking messages on her cellphone.
The woman allegedly struck and killed a 65-year-old man who was trying to catch a bus in the Westlake District.
The victim was struck about 8 p.m. Wednesday near the area of Sixth and Grand View streets.

A 38-year-old Los Angeles woman was arrested early Thursday morning on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter for allegedly checking messages on her cellphone when she struck and killed a 65-year-old man in the Westlake district.

The victim, also a resident of Los Angeles, was struck about 8 p.m. Wednesday near the area of Sixth and Grand View streets, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The victim, who was identified as Yong Do Kim, was running across Sixth Street in a marked crosswalk to catch a bus when he was hit by Rosario Valdezinda's eastbound vehicle, police said.

"It was determined that Valdezinda was looking at her messages on her cellphone when the collision occurred," according to a police statement. "She remained at the scene and attempted to render aid as required by law."

Police initially arrested Valdezinda for driving without a valid license, a misdemeanor, but after further investigation she was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, according to the LAPD.

"The driver actually was on her cellphone looking at her WhatsApp application viewing her messages," Detective Moses Castillo of the LAPD's Central Traffic Division said. "Just remember, your vehicle is a weapon."

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