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Crime News Breaking News

Arrest Made After Holocaust Survivor Fatally Mowed Down By Hit-And-Run Driver

Gennady Bolotsky had just celebrated his 91st birthday weeks before he was killed while walking his dog in the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles.

By Eric Shorey

A woman has been arrested following the death of a Holocaust survivor who was fatally struck by a car a few steps away from his home.

Police have not yet released information on the person they arrested Tuesday in the death of 91-year-old Gennady Bolotsky. Bolotsky had been taking his dog for a walk through the Valley Village neighborhood at around 5:35 am on June 27 when authorities say a driver struck him, paused momentarily, and then fled.

Security footage of the incident shows the white pickup speeding over Bolotsky's body as it zoomed away.

Granddaughter Erica Bolotsky described what happened to KCAL9 of Los Angeles, California.

"[The driver] ran over him and stopped and then just made the decision to keep driving," she said.

Paramedics transported Bolotsky to a nearby hospital, where he died. Multiple blunt-force trauma was listed as the official cause of death, according to NBC News.

hit and run


Police recovered the vehicle they believe to be involved in the incident on June 27, according to KTLA

Another granddaughter, Adriana Bolotsky, described Gennady as "silly" and "vivacious," to KTLA. Family members said Gennady had escaped Nazi-occupied Ukraine via Russia and later emigrated to the United States. He had celebrated a birthday just two weeks before his death. 

Michael Bolotsky, his son, feels his father had many more years left in him.

"He was supposed to live to 100 or more. At 91, he had more energy than a person half his life," Michael told NBC News.

Neighbors said that Bolotsky had been struck by a car in the same exact spot 15 years ago but had survived. 

Anyone with additional information about this case is being urged to call Valley Traffic Division Officer Fredo at 818-644-8029 or Officer Reyes at 818- 644-8032.

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