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UPDATE: Coroner IDs Arroyo Seco Teacher As Victim In Fatal Hit And Run; Suspect Sought

(Update Contains an updated description of the car, a silver or dark gray Lexus)

Coroner’s officials identified the bicyclist killed in a fatal hit-and-run collision Wednesday on Placerita Canyon Road. Law enforcement officials are still trying to locate the driver.


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Rod Bennett, 53, of Valencia, was hit by a silver or dark gray Lexus with right front end damage, a cracked windshield and a white roof rack, which was headed eastbound on Placerita Canyon Road, east of Highway 14, while riding a blue Eddy Merckx road bicycle, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

Here is a photo of the vehicle released by CHP Newhall officials:13310483_1073485796049857_3564160307259531941_n

 

Emergency responders pronounced Bennett dead at the scene as a result of injuries he sustained in the collision.

Related storyUPDATE: CHP Investigating Fatal Hit And Run On Placerita Canyon

Bennett taught math, music and band at Arroyo Seco Junior High School. A statement sent by Arroyo Seco Principal Rhondi Durand Wednesday night included the following:

“Please know that we will have crisis counseling team members on hand throughout the day to assist our students and staff in what will most assuredly be a difficult day for all of us.

In light of these extraordinary circumstances, I have made the difficult decision to cancel the Showcase scheduled for tomorrow. Rod Bennett was a beloved teacher, mentor and friend to so many at Arroyo Seco. I have also asked to have the assistance of the District Office personnel on hand to assist us.” (Click here for the Hart district website.)

California Highway Patrol officers are leading the investigation. The driver of the sedan is sought in connection with the fatal crash. An arrest had not been reported as of 10 p.m., according to Sheriff’s Station officials.

An all points bulletin has been issued for the vehicle, and officials are asking anyone who identifies the car to call 911. Informants can report information anonymously.

The collision occurred around 4:31 p.m. Wednesday for an unknown reason, officials stated, noting Bennett was to the far right of the eastbound lane on Placerita Canyon Road, in front of the silver sedan at the time of the incident. The sedan was behind the bicyclist when the car struck the bike.

“After the collision, the driver of the silver sedan continued eastbound on Placerita Canyon Road, fleeing the scene,” according to a CHP report.

Anyone with information regarding this collision is encouraged to contact Officer Branch at the Newhall CHP Office at (661)-294-5540.

(Melissa Lampert contributed to this report.)

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

UPDATE: Coroner IDs Arroyo Seco Teacher As Victim In Fatal Hit And Run; Suspect Sought

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.