Surveillance Video Shows Hit-Run Crash Near USC

Police hope newly released surveillance video will help them track down a hit-and-run driver who ran down a 58-year-old man near the University of Southern California campus.

Elias Aceves, 58, was struck and thrown 70 yards near the intersection of Portland and 23rd at about 9 p.m. by dark-colored sedan, officials from the Los Angeles Police Department said.

"We've been helping my grandmother, she's taking it pretty rough right now," said the victim's nephew, David Armenta. "She lives literally a block away. So she has to walk by here every day. It's heartbreaking knowing that she's going to walk by here and see wherever he died every single day."

Surveillance video shows Aceves walking in a marked crosswalk as the car approached.

Aceves lived in the community and frequented a convenient store on the corner near where he died.

β€œI’m very sad,” the clerk said. β€œHe’s a regular customer.”

Family and members of the community started a makeshift memorial for him at the intersection lighting candles and leaving flowers.

There was no evidence at the scene to indicate that the driver attempted to stop, police said.

The store clerk called 911 and looked on in horror as Aceves struggled to stay alive.

β€œThe ambulance arrived, they picked him up but he was dead,” the clerk said.

His personal belongings lay scattered in the street.

Aceves was taken to a hospital with head injuries. He died at about 11:30 p.m.

"He was alive when I left. It's just sad that someone that you see alive passes away," said Israel Linares, who tried to help the victim.

Officers said a surveillance camera near the crosswalk may help identify the car's license plate.

"He needs to come back and turn himself in," said LAPD Officer Joseph Cha. "He should've just stopped."

A fund has been set up to help the Aceves family with funeral costs. Anyone wishing to donate can do so here.

Michael Larkin , Willian Avila and  Gadi Schwartz contributed to this report

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