Los Angeles

Reward Offered in Case of Woman Who Was Hit, Dragged, Killed in South LA

Joan Davis had been walking east across Central Avenue north of 81st Street when she was hit by a white Ford Econoline van.

What to Know

  • A reward was sought to find the person responsible for killing a 62-year-old woman in a hit and run.
  • Joan Davis was killed about 12:40 a.m. on Aug. 2.
  • She had been walking east across Central Avenue north of 81st Street when she was hit by a white Ford Econoline van.

Police officials and family members of a 62-year-old woman who was dragged for blocks after being struck by two vehicles in South Los Angeles pleaded Thursday for information leading to the two drivers while announcing a $50,000 reward in the case.

Joan Davis was killed about 12:40 a.m. on Aug. 2. She had been walking east across Central Avenue north of 81st Street when she was hit by a white Ford Econoline van that was headed south, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The van didn't stop. Additional vehicles passed Davis' prone body until a gray hatchback struck and dragged her for a block, police said.

"This driver then pulled to the southwest curb of 82nd Street and Central Avenue for approximately three minutes," according to a police statement.

After stopping, the driver exited the vehicle, walked around and then got back in and drove off, heading south with the victim still beneath the hatchback, police said.

"The victim's body finally becomes dislodged on Central Avenue at 84th Place," police said. "The driver of the hatchback continued southbound on Central Avenue towards Manchester."

Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. The LAPD reported that the fatal collisions were recorded on surveillance video.

"If I don't get you, God's going to get you," Davis' son Roscoe Scally said at a news conference near the scene of the fatality.

Davis' sister Olivia Davis said her sibling had grandchildren and was loved. She appealed for the culprits to turn themselves in and for witnesses to step forward. "This was a human being, you got to have a heart," Davis said.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call LAPD South Traffic Division detectives Michael Flannery or Ryan Moreno at (323) 421-2500. Calls after hours or on weekends should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or at lacrimestoppers.org.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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