It’s heartbreaking to think that an evening walk with his wife could have turned into the final moments of Donny Kim’s life. At 65, he should have been looking forward to celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary, not meeting a tragic end on the streets of LA Koreatown, struck down by a reckless electric scooter rider who, in a cruel twist, fled the scene after the accident.
On September 12, while walking with his wife to a local restaurant, Donny Kim was fatally hit by a speeding electric scooter, operated illegally on the sidewalk. Instead of stopping to offer help or face the consequences, the rider — a woman in her 30s — fled, leaving behind a man struggling with injuries that would later claim his life.
The Los Angeles Police Department is now offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of this heartless individual. This incident is not just about a law being broken — it’s about the loss of a beloved member of our community. Donny Kim was a father, a husband, and a friend, and his life was cut short because someone couldn’t take responsibility for their actions.
We cannot let this go unanswered. As a community, we need to act swiftly to find the person responsible for this senseless hit-and-run. The LAPD is asking for our help, and if you know anything — anything at all — that could help identify the scooter rider, it is your duty to speak up. A mere piece of information, a small clue, could bring justice to the Kim family and ensure that this kind of tragedy does not happen again.
This is not just a matter of legal accountability. It’s about the moral responsibility we share as a community to stand up for what’s right. The rise of electric scooters on our streets has brought convenience for some but danger for many, especially the elderly who are most vulnerable. California law prohibits riding electric scooters on sidewalks, but lax enforcement has allowed incidents like this to become all too common.
We cannot let Donny Kim’s death become just another statistic. If we remain silent, we send a message that hit-and-run drivers can escape the consequences of their actions. But if we stand together, we can show that Koreatown is a community that protects its own, that demands accountability, and that values every life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the incident might have appeared to the person who fled.
A family is mourning, and a community is wounded. Let’s do what we can to bring peace and justice to those who deserve it. If you have any information about the suspect, please contact the LAPD immediately at 213-382-9102. It’s time to help the Kim family find closure and ensure that Donny’s tragic death is not in vain.
Let’s find the person responsible — for Donny Kim, for his family, and for the safety of our streets.
By Mooyoung Lee lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com
