$25,000 Reward Offered in Filmmaker’s Freeway Death

Authorities announced a $25,000 reward Friday for information on the murder of a filmmaker who was killed after he confronted a sport utility vehicle whose occupants had pelted his Jeep with raw eggs on the Hollywood Freeway.

The Los Angeles Police Department also released a sketch of the man, believed to be in his 20s, who may have been driving the black Chevy Suburban that struck Michael Craven, a Canoga Park documentary filmmaker, on April 29.

The Los Angeles City Council put up the reward money.

Craven, 44, had been driving a Jeep Wrangler on the southbound 101 Freeway near Barham Boulevard shortly before 11 p.m. when the Suburban began chasing him, its occupants pelting his car with eggs and a beer bottle, police said. He pulled onto the right shoulder and the sport utility vehicle stopped behind him. He walked up to the Suburban, which had tinted windows and dealer’s license plates, and was run down by the driver who sped away.

Craven died a few hours later from his injuries.

Witnesses said there were one or two passengers in the Suburban, but they are not facing charges for the North Hollywood incident, police said.

Craven had moved from Louisville, Ky., to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film.

Anyone with information, should call Det. Vince Bancroft or Det. Steven Metz at (818) 623-4075 or (818) 623-4016.