Local News in Brief : Suspect Arrested in Hit-Run Freeway Death
An El Monte man has been arrested in the hit-and-run death of a Sherman Oaks man 10 days ago, the California Highway Patrol said Monday.
Rafael Duarte, 19, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Los Angeles Municipal Court on felony charges of manslaughter and hit-and-run driving, Sgt. Ron Roberts said.
According to authorities, Duarte was driving a friend’s car when he struck and killed Gregory Keyes, 34, at about 2:14 a.m. Jan. 31 as the victim walked north on the Harbor Freeway.
Keyes, who had been involved in a car accident, had left his disabled vehicle south of Slauson Avenue, Roberts said. The vehicle driven by Duarte was found abandoned two hours after the accident at the Vernon Street off-ramp near 43rd Street, police said.
Keyes was pronounced dead at the scene, Roberts said.
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