Tragic Hit-and-Run in L.A. Chinatown: 18-Year-Old Killed, Six Injured

An 18-year-old man named Isaac Arellanes Jr. was killed in a hit-and-run crash outside a Starbucks in L.A.’s Chinatown neighborhood. The incident occurred shortly before 12:45 a.m. when a vehicle on Cesar Chavez collided with a car traveling north on Broadway. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but Arellanes Jr. died at the hospital.

Family members identified him at the crash site. Arellanes Jr. had recently graduated high school and was studying to become an electrician. He was a father to a young child. His father, Isaac Arellanes Sr., expressed pride in his son and shared that they had both trained at Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention program.

In addition to Arellanes Jr., six others were injured in the crash. Two of them were in critical condition, while the others had non-life-threatening injuries. Two people had to be rescued from a vehicle by firefighters.

Witnesses reported seeing one car overturned on the sidewalk near Starbucks and another vehicle damaged at the curb. The driver of the vehicle that caused the crash fled the scene and has not been caught.

Family members set up a memorial at the site, covering a bus kiosk with photos of Arellanes Jr. They also shared a GoFundMe link for funeral expenses.