Police Seek Witnesses to Hit-and-Run Accident

Police are seeking witnesses to a hit-and-run accident that left a 65-year-old man with life-threatening head injuries.

Salvador Contreras of Burbank was reported in extremely critical condition Tuesday at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, according to hospital spokesman Todd Smith.

Police had no description of the vehicle that struck Contreras as he was riding his bicycle Monday through a crosswalk at Main Street and Alameda Avenue, investigators said. Contreras was northbound on Main Street, crossing Alameda about 8 a.m., police said. Once he was in the crosswalk, a vehicle making a left turn onto Alameda, traveling southbound, apparently hit the bicyclist and left the scene.

“We are seeking [the motorist] at this point for felony hit-and-run,” said Lt. Larry Koch of the Burbank Police Department.

According to police, it appears that the victim and the motorist both had green signals, but the driver violated the law when he or she failed to yield to a person in the crosswalk and then left the scene.

Investigators are also looking for the driver of a red van who might have witnessed the incident. Police said Contreras was thrown from his bike into or near a red van that was stopped facing westbound on Alameda at Main Street.

“This is probably going to be our best witness if we can get to this person,” said Det. Paul Orlowski.

He stressed that the driver of the van is being sought only as a witness of the accident. Only one witness has talked to police so far, but Orlowski said he thinks others may yet come forward.

Between 7:30 and 8:30 this morning, police will stop traffic at the intersection where the accident occurred and hand out fliers appealing to passing motorists and pedestrians who might have witnessed the incident, Orlowski said. Anyone with information on the accident is asked to contact Orlowski at (818) 238-3100 or, after business hours, at (818) 238-3000.