A 38-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash in Santa Monica that killed two pedestrians and injured two others last month.
Authorities say Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey was behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger when he drove onto the sidewalk along Wilshire Boulevard near Euclid Avenue just after 9 p.m. on October 24. The crash killed 61-year-olds Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshy, who were walking at the time, and left two others injured.
Kirksey fled the scene on foot, abandoning the rental vehicle. During a press conference, Santa Monica Interim Police Chief Darrick Jacob stated that the Charger had been rented online by a woman with a “close personal relationship” with Kirksey. She reportedly went to the crash scene afterward to ask about the incident and is under investigation for assisting him in fleeing the state.
Kirksey was eventually located by Chicago police near a transit center and was extradited back to Southern California.
“This arrest reflects the persistence and professionalism of our investigators… this marks an important step toward justice for the victims and their families,” Chief Jacob said.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that Kirksey has been charged with:
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Two counts of vehicular manslaughter
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Two counts of felony hit-and-run resulting in injury
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One count of reckless driving
Hochman praised the collaborative investigation, calling it “fantastic,” and noted Kirksey could face up to 26 years in prison if convicted. His bail was set at $1 million after a deviation.
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