DOWNTOWN Ty Pennington, the vivacious host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a hit-and-run driver.
Daniel Seeck, a cousin of Pennington’s co-manager, was struck early Saturday at the corner of Arizona Avenue and 20th Street while riding a bicycle between 12:10 a.m. and 12:25 a.m., according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Seeck, a 33-year-old attorney, was going to meet some friends after having dinner with his parents and his fiancé, Kate Roland.
He is listed in critical condition on life support at UCLA Medical Center, Roland said.
“We are very optimistic …, however the situation is about as serious as it can be,” Roland said during a phone interview from the hospital. “Whomever did this needs to come forward and own up to what they’ve done.”
Bill Stankey, Seeck’s cousin, said he told Pennington about the accident and the host immediately offered a reward. Stankey described Seeck as a “smart guy who loves music, loves his family, outgoing, a tremendous human being.”
A red SUV was spotted near the scene of the accident shortly after Seeck was hit. Police said Seeck was riding a bike without lights and may have been drinking a beer at the time of the accident.
While the reward and Pennington’s celebrity can help in solving the case, SMPD investigator Chris Dawson said the offer can be a “double-edge sword.”
“Publicity brings this to more people, which is good, but the problem is we start getting calls from people … coming out of the woodwork,” Dawson said. “Any help we can get we will look at, but the bottom line is unless a friend or relative of this [driver] calls and gives us the plate number or we find the car, it is going to be pretty tough.
“I hope this guy grows a conscience and turns himself in.”
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is urged to contact Dawson at (310) 458-8427, or the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
