PCH — A male tow truck driver was struck and killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash on Pacific Coast Highway and John Tyler Drive on Monday night, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials. The victim was identified as Ronald Carver, 45, of Newbury Park, Calif.
Jill Rose, 44, of Santa Monica is suspected of striking Carver while he assisted a disabled car on the eastbound side of PCH near Pepperdine University, said Sgt. Phil Brooks of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's station. Rose allegedly fled the scene and crashed into a parked car two miles east near the Malibu Pier.
Carver, who worked for Platinum Towing of Camarillo, Calif. had lowered the back of the tow truck to pull the disabled car onto the bed when the accident occurred, Brooks said. The owner of the car that Carver was assisting told deputies what they saw.
"The ramp was down, she caught the ramp and did a flip or barrel role, [Carver] was probably next to the ramp or in front of it," Brooks said. "[The driver] landed on her tires and kept going. It's like a ‘Dukes of Hazzard' stunt.
"The person having their car towed was standing there and saw the whole thing."
Deputies responded to a call around 9 p.m. reporting that a gray or silver vehicle had struck a man on PCH near John Tyler and driven away from the scene. Responding deputies pronounced Carver dead at the scene.
A short time later, the sheriff's department also received calls that a car matching the hit-and-run description had crashed into a parked vehicle near the Malibu Pier.
"Witnesses positively identified the vehicle at the second collision as the one in the hit-and-run," Sgt. Dan Nagelmann said.
Detectives are still investigating whether Rose was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time she crashed into the parked vehicle. They most likely won't know until toxicology tests are completed, Nagelmann said.
Rose was admitted to a local hospital for undisclosed injuries and is listed in critical condition, Nagelmann said. He said she is expected to recover from her injuries. Detectives accompanied Rose to the hospital to question her and she was detained as a part of the investigation. Brooks said he understood Rose had suffered "some sort of head trauma" and likely would not be released from the hospital for at least two days. She would not be charged with a crime until then, Brooks said.
Sheriff's officials shut down the eastbound side of PCH between Puerco Canyon Road and the Malibu Pier after the crashes were reported. Traffic was diverted to the westbound lanes until approximately 5 a.m.
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This story first appeared in the Malibu Times.
