A story for every victim

Peter Martinez, 20

Peter Martinez, 20, was struck by a car and suffered massive blunt force injuries at 7304 White Oak Ave. in Reseda. He died at 5:19 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11. A $50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the suspect in this case, which police described as a brutal road-rage incident.

Martinez was walking across White Oak at about 2:50 p.m. with his 18-year-old brother Alex. A faded Honda Civic driving northbound blew past them. The brothers yelled at the offending car. The driver pulled a U-turn and sped back, swerving toward the center divider where Martinez was standing. The driver struck Martinez very hard -- intentionally, investigators believe. He was taken to Northridge Medical Center, where he died.

Vehicular homicides are usually not catalogued as homicides by the Los Angeles County coroner unless they are intentional. The driver in this case is being sought by police. He is described as Latino or Middle-Eastern, nicely groomed, 25 to 35 years old. The Honda Civic is a 4-door 1995 or '96 model with a tinted rear window. The front was smashed in where it struck Martinez. Anyone with any information on this suspect is asked to call Det. Joel Price of LAPD West Los Angeles Division at (818) 374-7725, or (818) 374-7721.

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