Full Notification

On September 25, 2014, multiple felony counts were filed on William Thomas Kelly for an incident on September 26, 2013.  Kelly, a Torrance resident, was charged with multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon using a vehicle, terrorist threats, driving under the influence, vandalism, and hit and run.  These charges were in connection with a drunken driving rampage which started in Palos Verdes Estates and ended with a traffic collision in Rancho Palos Verdes. 

On September 26, 2013, William Thomas Kelly was driving a 2002 Audi in the city of Palos Verdes Estates when he ran a bicyclist off the road.  When the bicyclist yelled at Kelly for running him off the road, Kelly backed his car over the bike almost striking the bicyclist.  Kelly continued driving until he saw a teacher from Lunada Bay Elementary school walking to her car.  Kelly drove at the teacher attempting to run her over, but she took evasive action in order to avoid being struck.  Kelly then continued to drive his Audi south on Palos Verdes Drive West toward the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Once Kelly entered the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, he sideswiped a car being driven by a Redondo Beach resident causing her to hit a curb.  Kelly did not stop and continued driving his Audi south on Palos Verdes Drive West.  After this collision, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Lomita Sheriff’s Station personnel received a call of a hit and run driver at the corner of Palos Verdes Drive West and Hawthorne Boulevard.  Lomita Station patrol units immediately responded and began to search the area for the car.

Kelly continued to “Pelican Cove Park” located on Palos Verdes Drive South and turned into the parking lot.  Inside the parking lot, Kelly began ramming several parked cars and then tried to run over a pedestrian walking in the parking lot.  Kelly missed the pedestrian and instead hit a curb.  Again, Kelly did not stop and continued driving east on Palos Verdes Drive South.  While driving through the Portuguese Bend slide area Kelly began to tailgate a car being driven by a San Pedro resident.  Kelly intentionally rear ended the car causing damage and the car pulled over.  Kelly then sideswiped the same car and pulled in front of it.  Once in front of the car, Kelly placed his car into reverse and intentionally rammed the car.  Again, Kelly did not stop and continued driving east on Palos Verdes Drive South. 

Kelly continued to drive his Audi east on Palos Verdes Drive South then turned left on Palos Verdes Drive East through the switchbacks.  Kelly then turned west on Crest Road.  While driving on Crest Road, Kelly again sideswiped another car being driven by Rancho Palos Verdes residents.  After sideswiping their car, they pulled over to assess the damage.  Kelly then pulled his car in front of their car, placed his car into reverse and intentionally rammed their car in reverse causing further damage.  Once again he drove away west on Crest Road with no regard for anyone’s safety.

Not being familiar with the area, Kelly did not realize that Crest Road would come to a dead end.  Kelly accelerated his car and intentionally rammed through three locked fences before his car was disabled and came to a stop. 

Lomita Station patrol units arrived on scene and took Kelly into custody without incident. 

Kelly was transported to Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital, San Pedro, for possible injuries.  Kelly was found to be driving with a blood alcohol content of .11% - .12% during this incident.   

William Thomas Kelly will be arraigned on the above charges at a future court date.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lomita Sheriff’s Station, Sergeant Moffett, at (310) 891-3215.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Authored by:

Sergeant Mark Moffett

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Lomita Sheriff’s Station

(310) 891-3215

Forwarded by:

Juanita Navarro-Suarez, Deputy

Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

323-267-4800

@LASDJuanita

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