Driver Arrested in Death of Pedestrian

A Los Angeles man who told sheriff’s deputies that he fell asleep behind the wheel on Sunday struck and killed a 69-year-old man who was walking on the dirt shoulder of the road, authorities said.

The victim, a Quartz Hill resident who remains unidentified pending notification of family, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, said Lt. Daniel Castillo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Herman St. Aimie, 28, was driving west on Avenue K when he struck the victim, who was walking east about 8 a.m., authorities said.

Aimie, who was headed to the state prison at Lancaster, told investigators he fell asleep in the car and, when he awoke, exited the car and walked to a nearby house where he tried to contact friends before getting a ride to the prison, authorities said.

“Based on his statement, I can only assume that he did not know he had struck anyone,” Castillo said.

Neighbors who had earlier assisted Aimie discovered the victim’s body and contacted deputies at the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Station, who located Aimie at the prison, authorities said.

Aimie was taken into custody at the sheriff’s station and booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.