Full Notification

Shortly after midnight Thursday morning, 21-year old Hollywood resident Lauren Ann Freeman lost her life when she was struck by a car as she crossed Sunset Boulevard in the City of West Hollywood

Witnesses reported seeing the victim in the crosswalk as she walked across Sunset Blvd., at a traffic signal-controlled intersection at Hammond Avenue. A grey 2-door 2007 Bentley driving eastbound hit the victim with tremendous force. Sadly, she died at the scene.

The driver of the Bentley fled in his car without stopping to render aid.

There were no license plates on the suspect's car, but there was visible damage due to the impact of the collision.

At about 8:20AM, sheriff's deputies canvassing the area found a Bentley with body damage and no license places abandoned in the 400 block of Westmount Drive in West Hollywood. The registered owner of that car is 43-year old Ryan E. Bowman of Australia.

After finding the car, West Hollywood Sheriff's Station detectives made contact with several people who are known to registered owner Ryan Bowman, and explained they would like to talk to him.

At about 2:00PM today, an attorney phoned detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and said that her client would like to speak to investigators. At about 4:30PM, the attorney and Ryan Bowman came to West Hollywood Sheriff's Station.

He was arrested at the sheriff's station for vehicular manslaughter and his passport was held by detectives. It is believed that alcohol was involved.

Bail was originally set at $100,000 but was raised to $2 million.

"This is a tragedy for everyone involved. Our hearts go out to the grieving family of Lauren Freeman," said West Hollywood Sheriff's Station Captain Kelley Fraser. "The criminal investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact West Hollywood Sheriff's Station Traffic Investigators at (310) 855-8850, or any station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you can call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the web site http://lacrimestoppers.org.



Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
www.lasd.org

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff



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