EL MONTE – A head-on crash between two vehicle claimed the life of one driver Wednesday night, police said.

A crash between a Cadillac sedan and a Toyota 4Runner occurred on Santa Anita Avenue north of Valley Boulevard around 7:15 p.m. The 4Runner was southbound and apparently crossed over the median before colliding with the Cadillac, according to the El Monte Police Department.

The four inside the Cadillac sedan apparently only suffered minor injuries. They were all hospitalized.

The driver of the 4Runner was alone in the vehicle. 

El Monte Police announced just before 4:30 a.m. that road closures were ended.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - The hunt continues for the driver of a black truck who struck and killed a motorcyclist February 20.

Investigators are seeking an Asian man who is 30 to 40 years old, stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 175 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, according to the El Monte Police Department.

The suspect also wore a brown plaid long-sleeve shirt and black pants.

The described suspect drove a black four-door 2005 to 2015 Toyota Tacoma (SR5), which sported mud flaps, a chrome rear bumper, El Monte Police said.

The rider, identified as 56-year-old John Spata, died soon after being struck at 7 p.m. near Lower Azusa Road and Peck Road. The collision was caught on nearby surveillance camera.

Spata was westbound on Lower Azusa Road. The truck driver was traveling eastbound, failed to yield to oncoming traffic and made a left turn into the driveway of Shell Gas, 4801 Peck Rd.

The driver of the truck appeared to intentionally drive in the path of Spata before striking him and fleeing, according to the El Monte Police Department.

Spata was forced to lay the bike down and he slid into the moving truck, which was driven away from the scene, El Monte Police said.

A second vehicle described as a white sedan may have run over Spata after the initial collision, El Monte Police said.

Anyone with information on the hit-and-run driver is urged to call El Monte Police at 626-580-2100, 626-580-2183, or 626-580-2109. Information can be emailed to [email protected]. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.