Thao Tran posted a message about her recovery along with a photo with her beloved corgi Kobe, who was killed in the Oct. 5 collision. (photo courtesy of Thao Tran via Instagram)

A member of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky’s staff who was struck and seriously injured in a hit-and-run collision in the Miracle Mile area on Oct. 5 has been released from the hospital and is recovering.

The Los Angeles Police Department identified the female driver and is in the process of submitting the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges of felony hit-and-run causing injury. 

The collision occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 at the intersection of Eighth Street and Cloverdale Avenue. The driver of a Toyota Tacoma pickup traveling west on Eighth Street failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the victim, Thao Tran, and her corgi Kobe, said Detective Olin Osborne, with the LAPD’s West Traffic Division. The Toyota momentarily stopped but then drove away, Osborne said. The driver, who has not been identified, voluntarily surrendered later the same day at the West Traffic Division police station on Venice Boulevard, Osborne added. The woman was released on her own recognizance with the requirement she appear in court once charges are filed.

Tran, who serves as Yaroslavsky’s business development deputy, was taken to a hospital with multiple fractures. Kobe, who was frequently by Tran’s side at community events, died as a result of being struck by the pickup. Tran posted about the incident on Instagram on Oct. 13.

“It was one week ago on Sunday morning that a hit-and-run driver struck me and killed Kobe while starting our morning walk. I sustained three broken ribs, three fractured vertebrae, a fractured fibula and two fractures in my cheekbones that required surgery. Kobe … died at the ER vet,” Tran said. “I’m recovering at home now, mourning the loss of Kobe and trying to make sense of it all. I’ve received countless gifts of flowers, food and care packages and I’m sincerely grateful for belonging to such a generous and caring community. My injuries will eventually heal but the loss of Kobe is a heartache I’ve not felt since the loss of my parents.”

Yaroslavsky called the collision “devastating” and said it illustrates a dangerous problem that is much too common in Los Angeles.

“Our thoughts are with our colleague as she recovers from both her injuries and this heartbreaking loss,” Yaroslavsky said in a statement. “This devastating incident is a reminder that far too many Angelenos are hurt or killed on our streets every year. In 2024 alone, more than 300 people lost their lives to traffic violence, many while simply walking or biking in their own neighborhoods. Behind every death or injury is a family changed forever, a community left grieving.”

Osborne said the female driver is cooperating with police. Alcohol or drugs are not believed to have been a factor. Osborne said the driver is a Los Angeles resident in her 30s, but does not live in the immediate area where the collision occurred. He declined to release the driver’s name or any further information pending formal charges, which he expects to be filed within the next week. 

“Technically, it’s still under investigation. But it appears the driver ran the stop sign,” Osborne said. “A lot of the collisions I have investigated recently involved people not stopping at stop signs. From my point of view, I’m seeing a direct correlation. People are rolling through stop signs or just not stopping at all.” 

He cautioned drivers to be attentive and warned pedestrians to always be aware of their surroundings. He said pedestrians should try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing.

“In terms of general safety, always be cautious around stop signs and crosswalks,” Osborne said. “I’m seeing a lot of crashes involving pedestrians and people failing to stop.”