$50K reward offered for information leading to arrest of driver in South LA hit-and-run

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- LAPD South Traffic Division detectives are looking for 24-year-old Sierra Whittaker. Police say she's the driver behind the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed 25-year-old Emerson Gonzalez-Escobar on July 5.

The violent crash happened just after 9 p.m. the day after Independence Day at the intersection of 91st Street and South Figueroa.

Detectives say Whittaker was driving the white Porsche Panamera and was traveling almost 100 miles per hour when she crashed into Gonzalez-Escobar, killing him. He was waiting for an ambulance to pass him while he was waiting to make a left turn from East 91st Street to South Figueroa.

Whittaker and her two passengers were caught on cellphone video getting their belongings out of the car. A bystander took cellphone video asking the women why they didn't go help the victim. That's when Whittaker confronted the person recording the trio trying to get away with their belongings.

Two months after the fatal crash, detectives are hoping a $50,000 reward will lead to Whittaker's whereabouts.

LAPD Det. Ryan Moreno says the suspect is a known prostitute.

"She also frequents Las Vegas. From what we're hearing, a lot of people know who she is. She's also known in Orange County, and we're hoping that today, once we release these video images of the suspect, someone will know her, know her whereabouts and tell us where she's at," Moreno said.

Detectives say the family is devastated and also upset at what happened. Especially that Whittaker and her two passengers didn't go to Gonzalez-Escobar to check on him...

Whittaker could be facing a murder charge. Detectives are hoping that $50,000 reward will lead to the arrest.

"We really appreciate the public's help, and Emerson's family would appreciate it too," Moreno said. "We're trying to give closure to the family and and kind of bring a little bit of justice for them, for Emerson."