Police seek hit-and-run driver

Man struck in crosswalk on South Coast Highway around 1 a.m. Dec. 5 by wrong-way driver; vehicle last seen at Nyes Place.

December 09, 2009|By Cindy Frazier

Laguna Beach police are trying to locate a wrong-way hit-and-run driver who allegedly struck an off-duty Orange County Firefighter at 12:55 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Brooks Street and South Coast Highway, Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

Witnesses told officers that the victim was crossing South Coast Highway, in a marked crosswalk, when a vehicle traveling southbound in a northbound lane struck him.

The victim, Luke Perisin, 38, of Dana Point, was thrown approximately 50 feet before landing in the roadway. Perisin is in Mission Hospital with numerous broken bones and severe head injuries, but is stable and expected to survive, Kravetz said Wednesday.

The suspect vehicle made no attempt to stop and continued southbound, police allege. Witnesses described the vehicle as possibly being a white, four-door, newer model Toyota Prius or Corolla. This vehicle was last seen in the area of Nyes Place and South Coast Highway. It will have noticeable front-end damage and possibly a broken windshield.

The department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating the suspect vehicle. A witness attempted to follow the vehicle, but lost it in the area of Nyes Place and South Coast Highway when it turned off of the highway, Kravetz said.

“We are looking for any witnesses who might have seen a white colored Toyota Prius or Corolla with front end damage,” Kravetz said.

Anyone with information should contact Kravetz at (949) 497-0307 or the Watch Commander at (949) 497-0359.

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