The Los Angeles City Council announced a $25,000 reward on Monday for information leading to a conviction in a hit and run collision in Griffith Park on Feb. 17 in which a bicyclist was struck and dragged under a vehicle onto a freeway on-ramp.

City Councilman Tom LaBonge announces the $25,000 reward at the site of the crash on Monday. (photo courtesy of the 4th District Council Office.)

The cyclist, Damien Kevitt, 36, survived the incident, but was critically injured. He suffered severe abrasions, multiple broken bones and one of his legs had to be amputated. The reward was initiated by Councilman Tom LaBonge, 4th District, who called the incident a “tragedy.”

“It was a beautiful day in Griffith Park and the gentleman was taking a bike ride past the zoo when someone struck the cyclist,” LaBonge said. “It was a terrible accident.”

The collision occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. as Kevitt was riding northbound on Zoo Drive, parallel to the Golden State (5) Freeway. As he rode past the southbound on-ramp for the freeway, a driver in a mini-van heading the opposite direction suddenly turned left and struck the cyclist. Kevitt was trapped under the van, and was dragged approximately 600 feet before becoming dislodged. The mini-van driver never slowed down or stopped, according to authorities.

“It’s bad, no matter how you look at it,” California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Kevin Denmon said. “Anytime you have a pedestrian or a cyclist struck and they suffer that type of injury, I would consider it egregious.”

Witnesses described the vehicle as an older-model gray mini-van — possibly a Toyota Sienna — with a “For Sale “ sign in one of the rear windows.

“Based on the severity of the accident, there should be some physical damage to the vehicle,” Denmon added.

Kevitt, who authorities said was an avid cyclist who often rode in Griffith Park, is still recovering.

“Somebody knows something, and they have to speak up,” LaBonge said. “We hope this reward will provide an incentive for someone to come forward.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol’s Altadena Station, which has jurisdiction over the area where the collision occurred, at (626)296-8100.