Elyzza Guajaca Death: Arrested in South Los Angeles highway takeover accident that killed woman, LAPD says

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) — One arrest has been made in connection with the death of a woman, in her 20s, who was fatally hit by a car in a street takeover in south LA’s Hyde Park neighborhood last month, authorities said.

Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the arrest to ABC7 but declined to provide further details. More information is expected to be announced at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

The victim, identified by relatives as Elyzza Guajaca, was struck by a black Chevrolet Camaro just after 9 p.m. on Dec. 25 while standing with a group of people on the northeast corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Florence Avenue, according to the LAPD. She was transported to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The driver involved in the collision fled the scene, authorities said.

LAPD investigators said six or seven other victims were seen on video taken in the days after the incident. Investigators asked the public for help in identifying her.

LAPD officers released videos they found or sent to them on Dec. 28 showing the moments after the street takeover. The footage shows people helping others who appear to be injured. At least three appeared to be critically injured.

Guajaca’s brother Louie set everything up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her funeral expenses.

“My sister was an aunt to my beautiful girls who loved her so much,” Louie Guajaca said in the appeal. “She was a beautiful sister who loved a lot. She was a daughter who always wanted to be with (the family) and have family time. She was the rock in our family. She was just a good, goofy, funny, open-minded person. She loved all her close friends and family.”

Activist and author Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, said he witnessed part of the deadly street takeover and called on Mayor Karen Bass and the city council to declare a state of emergency over such takeovers, similar to what was recently issued by the mayor on homelessness.

“The current street takeovers — as evidenced by the deaths in Florence and Crenshaw and numerous fatalities and property damage at other takeover locations around the city — are a serious concern for city officials,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “It has sparked outrage in the community and calls for increased measures. A state of emergency will further empower law enforcement and citizens to focus time, energy and resources on this deadly problem.”

Street takeovers have become popular in recent years, and the LAPD has proposed tougher penalties for anyone engaging in them.

Detective Ryan Moreno said about 200 people were at the intersection during the street takeover that killed Guajaca.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the LAPD’s South Traffic Division at (323) 421-2500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at lacrimestoppers.org.

The City News Service contributed to this report.