Fatal Double Hit-And-Run Leads to Mob Melee in Hawthorne

Police in Hawthorne are investigating a bizarre string of incidents that happened Wednesday night, leaving one man dead, a woman injured, and one man arrested. The chain of events began at 9:30 p.m. on Crenshaw Boulevard near the 105 Freeway, according to the LA Times, when a "minivan struck a man crossing the street." The driver fled, and, immediately thereafter, a "second vehicle ran over the man, who was sprawled in the middle of the street." And, yes--the second driver fled the scene, too.Several people entered the roadway to try to help the twice-felled pedestrian. One woman who was part of the good samaritan group was then hit by a vehicle, only the driver of that car stopped and got out. However, the crowd turned on the driver, and beat him, and stole his cellphone, say the Hawthorne Police Department.

The motorist was able to escape the melee, and drove away. He returned when things had calmed down to speak with officers on scene. One man, 32-year-old Tran Lewis of Long Beach, was arrested for beating and robbing the third driver.

Hawthorne Police are stunned by bizarre series of events, calling the case "in a league of its own."

So far, police are still searching for the first car that struck the male pedestrian, and believe they have questioned the second driver who struck him in, though that driver has not been arrested. The pedestrian died of his injuries at a local hospital, while the female who went to help him was released yesterday.