UPDATE at 2:25 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, 2015: Sheriff's officials say they located the bus and that they're questioning its owner. See more below. First posted at 7:03 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23.

Greater Los Angeles has long had a hit-and-run problem. But this is getting ridiculous.

Authorities believe a black party bus that was full of party people listening to party music struck a young man, dragged him more than 200 feet, and kept on going. The suspected crime happened over the weekend in Norwalk, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department officials said.

The victim was in intensive care at a hospital with major injuries, deputies said. The 26-year-old victim was identified by family members as Efren Virgen Jr. of Norwalk, according to CBS Los Angeles. Family members told the station he was in a coma.

The department's narrative makes it seem possible that the party was so intense the driver might not have realized a pedestrian was hit:

As the suspect's vehicle drove past the witness, he saw that the interior neon lights were flashing, and heard music coming from inside.


The collision was reported at 2:31 a.m. Saturday on Fairford Avenue south of Ratliffe Street, sheriff's officials said. The bus was headed south when it hit the man, deputies said. It kept going and went west on Foster Road, they said.

Cops are particularly interested in talking to people who were on the bus or who might have seen the vehicle in that area at the time. Call 562-863-8711 if you think you can help investigators here.

UPDATE at 2:25 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, 2015: Sheriff's officials said this afternoon that investigators have located a vehicle believed to have been involved in the collision. It's described as a 1998 Ford E-450 bus. It has been impounded as evidence, deputies said.

The owner, a Pico Rivera resident, also was tracked down, and he's being questioned, they said. According to a sheriff's statement, “The owner is cooperating with the investigation.”

With reporting from City News Service. Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow L.A. Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

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