Pedestrian Killed in Langley Park Hit-and-Run Investigation

A young Hispanic pedestrian died on Thursday after a driver struck him on 14th Avenue in Langley Park, Maryland, and fled the scene before dawn.

Prince George’s County police are actively searching for the driver involved in the fatal hit-and-run, Univision reported. The incident took place at approximately 12:30 a.m. near the 7900 block of 14th Avenue.

Residents woke up to flashing police cruisers and yellow crime scene tape stretched across the neighborhood. Emergency personnel placed the victim’s body into a white bag, transferred it to a blue bag, and removed it from the street.

“We woke up to the reflection of police lights. They put up yellow tape. We saw him lying there, a young guy,” neighbors told Univision.

The tragedy shattered the quiet of the Prince George’s County community. Witnesses condemned the driver’s actions following the collision.

“The wrongdoer who did that injustice left like a coward. Like a scoundrel. Because why didn’t they stay? Because maybe he was alive and they could have saved him, and instead they left like the rats they are,” a resident told Univision.

While the fatality shocked the neighborhood, residents said that the danger on local streets comes as no surprise. Longstanding safety issues plague the corridor where the collision occurred.

“Look, this place is truly dangerous. The truth is it is extremely dangerous and you have to be careful because they do not respect the white line,” a resident told Univision regarding traffic speeds and pedestrian right-of-way.

Locals point to an absence of functional traffic lights, crosswalk signals, and proper signage along 14th Avenue. Vehicles regularly travel at speeds well above local thresholds.

“Here, look, they should go maybe 15 or 20 [mph]. Instead, they pass at 40, at 50, flying by. Imagine that, and the poor soul walking there trusting that they will stop a bit,” residents explained to Univision regarding the speeding traffic.

Community members acknowledge that pedestrians often take the most direct paths across the wide roadway out of necessity. However, drivers frequently fail to yield, creating hazardous conditions for foot traffic in a densely populated area.

Residents are calling for immediate municipal intervention to install traffic calming devices or enhanced crosswalk signals.