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Hit-and-run victim’s condition improves

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Investigators say the condition of a 75-year-old Glendale woman who was struck on Western Avenue by a hit-and-run driver has improved.

While Leleh Issakhanian is still in critical condition, she is now breathing without the help of machines and has been responding slowly to her doctor, according to Glendale police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot. Her recovery is “promising,” she added.

As Issakhanian heals from her injuries, police are still looking for the driver of a white utility van, which they said struck her at about 4:22 p.m. as she exited her parked vehicle in the 1100 block of Western Avenue.

Police released surveillance video this week that showed the white van in the area of the collision. The van was last seen traveling east on Glenoaks Boulevard.

The day after that incident, two women were seriously injured in a hit-and-run collision as they walked in a crosswalk at about 8 p.m. at Central and California avenues and were struck by a white or light gray four-door compact or mid-size sedan.

Serpouhi Gharapetian, 74, is in a coma, and Bekzad Shahbazian, 69, suffered severe head trauma.

Anyone with details about either incident is asked to call the police department’s Traffic Bureau at (818) 548-3131 or (818) 548-4911.

-- Veronica Rocha, veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA.

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