Tag Archive for Los Angeles County

58-year old man struck and killed by two drivers on Crenshaw Blvd in South LA; one driver fled the scene

Now they’re ganging up on us.

A man was killed trying to cross Crenshaw Blvd on his bicycle Wednesday night when he was struck by two drivers in rapid succession — one of whom fled the scene.

According to KTLA-5, the victim was attempting to cross Crenshaw from west to east, just south of Stocker Street, when he was struck by a driver traveling north on Crenshaw around 7:30 pm.

He was flung into the air, and was struck by a speeding driver, also heading north on Crenshaw, after hitting the pavement.

The first driver had the basic human decency to remain at the scene and attempt to aid the victim.

The second one didn’t.

The victim, identified only as a 59-year old man, died at the scene.

The story notes that he was crossing outside of a marked crosswalk, even though there is no requirement, or even an expectation, for people on bicycles to use one.

Police are looking for the driver of what witnesses described only as a sedan, which would likely have some front end damage. That doesn’t exactly give them a lot to go on.

As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD South Traffic Detective Ryan Moreno at 323/421-2500, or the South Traffic Watch Commander at 323/421-2577 or 1-877/527-3247.

This is at least the third bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the first in the City of Los Angeles.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.

40-year old bike rider Alex Zavala died two months after October hit-and-run; 20th fatal SoCal bike hit-and-run last year

This may be one of the saddest stories I’ve seen.

Late last month a crowdfunding campaign was posted online to help pay the funeral expenses for 40-year old Vladimir Zavala, who went by the name of Alex.

The page said Alex Zavala had died weeks after he was the victim of a hit-and-run while riding his bicycle.

But there were no details. No date for the crash, no location, no word on whether there was an arrest in the case.

It turns out that was because his family has no idea what happened or where.

According to a story from La Opinion, Zavala worked at a bicycle warehouse — likely meaning a bike co-op — and rode his bike everywhere, even spurning the car his mom bought for him.

But when Zavala didn’t come home one October night, his family searched for him everywhere, before eventually finding him lying in a coma in the intensive care unit of Los Angeles General Medical Center, suffering from head injuries, a broken his hip and missing his left eye.

His brother had to identify him, because he had come to the hospital with no identification.

It took a month for Alex Zavala to regain consciousness after the crash — then was somehow discharged despite bizarre ranting and speaking incoherently.

Then his mother came home from work one day in late December to find Zavala convulsing and bleeding from the ear; he died from a brain hemorrhage on December 20th.

If that was the end of it, that would be bad enough.

But the tragedy has been compounded because his family can’t conduct a funeral or bury Alex Zavala because they haven’t been able to get a death certificate, because the Medical Examiner’s office says they’re too backed up.

But I’m sure they’ll get around to it eventually.

To make matters even worse, the crowdfunding account was hacked, leaving Alex Zavala’s mother $25,000 in debt for his funeral expenses and burial plot.

A new crowdfunding campaign currently stands at a little more than $7,000 of the modest $8,500 goal. If you have a few extra bucks lying around, I can’t think of a better cause.

This was at least the 74th bicycling fatality in Southern California last year, and the 34th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it may or may not have occurred in the City of Los Angeles.

At least 20 of those SoCal deaths have been at the hands of hit-and-run drivers.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Alex Zavala and all his loved ones.

Thanks to Dr. Nina Harawa for the heads-up.

Update: Man killed riding bicycle in Lennox hit-and-run last week; 1st confirmed SoCal bike death this year

So it begins.

A man riding a bicycle was killed in a hit-and-run in the unincorporated Lennox community of Los Angeles County last week.

Yet the only mention of the crash comes from a pair of legal websites, based on a CHP alert that’s not online anymore.

According to the sites, the victim was struck by a driver around 11:41 pm last Wednesday, January 10th, at the intersection of Hawthorne and Lennox boulevards.

The victim, described only as a man who appeared to around 40 years old, died at the scene.

The driver fled following the crash. The suspect vehicle was described as red Dodge Ram pickup truck; there’s no description of the driver at this time.

This is the first confirmed bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

It’s also the first fatal hit-and-run of the year.

Let’s hope the local media reports the next one, since they didn’t this time.

Update: The victim has been identified as 51-year old Cesar Hernandez

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Cesar Hernandez and his loved ones. 

 

Update: Beloved Australian teacher killed riding ebike in Marina del Rey collision; death confirmed by victim’s family

I could just cry.

Yesterday, I posted a photo by Ian Dutton depicting the aftermath of a bicycling collision in Marina del Rey on Friday, (although I somehow mistakenly called it Santa Monica).

I added that I hoped the victim was okay, and linked to a TikTok video from the scene, in which the person who posted it prayed the victim would survive.

Sadly, our prayers weren’t answered.

In a comment to that post, Libby Starling, who identified herself as the victim’s sister-in-law, revealed that he didn’t make it.

The cyclist in the photo from Friday’s crash in Marina del Rey was my brother-in-law, Leland Dutcher, from Manhattan Beach. As you might anticipate from the damage to the windshield, he did not survive the impact. As you add him to your list of bicycle fatalities in Southern California, know that the world lost a great soul with his death.

I’m told by Streetsblog’s Joe Linton that the cash occurred where the beachfront Marvin Braude Bike Trail crosses Admiralty Way.

Right now, there’s no word on what time of day it happened, or why.

All we know from the photo — which I am not reposting here, since his loved ones are likely to see this — is that Dutcher’s white ebike came to rest in the right lane of what appears to be eastbound Admiralty Way, several yards in front of a stopped car with a smashed windshield, while firefighters tended to Dutcher in the middle of the roadway.

Hopefully, we’ll learn more soon.

This is at least the 68th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 33rd that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

And as Starling notes, we’ve lost a great soul, which is a tragedy for us all.

Update: An Australian news site offers more information about Leland Dutcher, describing him as a beloved teacher at an Adelaide college. He was here on leave from the school, and working as a content partner manager in Manhattan Beach.

Sadly, his father says he had just posted photos showing him riding along the beach the same day he was killed.

Update 2: I’m told the photo was taken around 2:15 pm Friday, which puts the crash sometime around 2 pm to 2:15 pm. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Leland Dutcher and all his loved ones. 

Thanks to Joe Linton, Libby Starling and David Drexler for the heads-up.

Update: Man killed riding bicycle in Santa Clarita Saturday afternoon; at least the 32nd bicycling death in LA County this year

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any end to the danger on our streets this year.

That was driven home yet again in Santa Clarita Saturday afternoon, when a man was killed in a collision while riding his bicycle.

According to The Signal, the victim was struck by the driver of a Mini Cooper around 12:42 pm at Market Street and Railroad Ave.

While he was down on the street, the man, who has not been publicly identified, was then run over by another driver. He died at the scene.

Both drivers reportedly remained following the crash.

There’s no word on where in the intersection the crash occurred, or how the initial collision happened.

However, raw video from the scene appears to show the Mini Cooper stopped in front of a building on the northwest side of the intersection, with the victim’s body blurred out on the corner.

Which should serve as a warning to be careful deciding whether you really want to click on the link.

This is at least the 66th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 32nd that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Update: The victim has been identified as 42-year old Franklin Mejia.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Franklin Mejia and his loved ones. 

Update: Bike rider apparently killed in hit-and-run at 405 onramp in West LA

No official confirmation yet.

However, Citizen is reporting that a bike rider was injured in a hit-and-run while riding on Santa Monica Blvd near the onramp to the 405 Freeway in West LA.

Video from the scene show a police canopy over the victim, which usually indicates a fatal crash; a commenter also said they saw police pull a sheet over the victim.

Another comment indicates the victim was run over by a second car while on the street.

This is an exceptionally dangerous section of roadway where the street narrows as passes underneath the 405, and where bike riders must navigate busy on- and off-ramps in both directions.

It’s also where Frank Guzman was killed riding his bike five years ago this month.

There’s no indication yet just where or how the crash occurred, or any description of the driver or suspect vehicle.

If this is confirmed — and there’s every reason to believe it will be — it will be at least the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 31st that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the 23rd bicycling death in the City of Los Angeles since the first of the year.

Those numbers were recently increased following a report of 13 deaths in the City of Los Angeles that we were previously unaware of.

At least 18 of those SoCal bicyclists have been the victims of hit-and-run drivers.

Update: The LAPD has confirmed that someone riding a bicycle was killed in a hit-and-run around 10:30 Tuesday night, placing the crash at Santa Monica and Cotner Ave.

Update 2: This places the crash on the north side of the street, at the northbound onramp to the 405 Freeway — just after the bike lane ends, unceremoniously dumping riders into heavy traffic. Thanks to Danny Gamboa for the photo.

Update 3: The victim has been identified as 46-year old Aaron Cobb

Photo by Danny Gamboa

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Aaron Cobb and his loved ones.

Update: Man found dead in apparent high speed fall near entrance to Universal Studios; 5th LA County bike death in 10 days

Evidently, November is starting off the same way October ended.

For the fifth time in the last ten days, someone has died riding a bicycle in Los Angeles County — three in the City of Los Angeles.

According to multiple, nearly identical sources, a man who had been riding a bicycle was found dead outside the entrance to Universal Studios in an apparent hit-and-run early Sunday.

Paramedics found the victim lying in the street at 3799 Lankershim Blvd around 12:47 am Sunday, suffering from major injuries.

The victim died at the scene. He was described only as a man around 57 years old, which seems oddly specific.

Police aren’t confirming yet that he was killed in a hit-and-run. That seems highly likely, however, though it’s also possible he may have lost control of his bike on the steep hill.

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD investigators at 213/473-0234.

This is at least the 51st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 17th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also at least the ninth time a person was been killed riding a bicycle in the City of Los Angeles since the start of the year.

And he’s the 16th SoCal bike rider killed in the past 30 days.

If this is confirmed as a hit-and-run, it would also be the 18th time someone riding a bicycle died in a hit-and-run in Southern California this year.

Update: At least it’s not hit-and-run this time. 

The victim was identified Monday as 57-year old Los Angeles resident Samuel Tessier

According to the LAPD, he appears to have been killed in a high-speed fall after apparently striking the curb on the steep downhill. 

Update 2: A ghost bike will be installed Tuesday, November 7th. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Samuel Tessier and all his loved ones. 

Update: Valley Glen man dragged, killed by hit-and-run driver; 4th LA County bike death in 4 days, 15th SoCal rider killed in 25 days

Dear God, not again.

For the fourth time in four days, someone riding a bicycle has been killed on the deadly streets of Los Angeles County.

This time, it was hit-and-run. And should be considered murder, but probably won’t be.

According to multiple sources, the victim was found lying in the street at Van Nuys Blvd and Calvert Street in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles around 11:40 pm last night, after being struck by a driver three-quarters of a mile away at Van Nuys and Burbank Blvd.

Or maybe he was found a third of a mile away at Van Nuys and Hatteras.

Which is the problem with news outlets mindlessly parroting police reports that too often contain major mistakes. Because the description of this crash doesn’t make any sense.

According to all three reports posted online, the victim was rear-ended by the driver while riding south on Van Nuys at Burbank Blvd, and dragged under the vehicle for multiple blocks.

Except both locations where the victim’s body was alternately described as being found at Calvert, or coming dislodged from beneath the vehicle at Hatteras, are north of the reported impact point, making it impossible to have been rear-ended while riding south.

It also seems extremely unlikely that the victim, described only as a homeless Hispanic man in his 40s, could have been found at Calvert after being dislodged at Hatteras. It’s possible he could have staggered nearly half a mile after being dragged by the fleeing driver, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

It’s also possible that the victim and the motorist were actually traveling north on Van Nuys, which would fit with where the victim’s body was dislodged, but would not explain the multiple locations.

Either way, the cops are now searching for a murderous coward in a red Toyota Camry or Corolla, who fled multiple block while dragging the victim’s body beneath their vehicle.

And if that’s not murder, I don’t know what is.

This is at least the 50th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 16th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also at least the eighth time a person was been killed riding a bicycle in Los Angeles since the start of the year.

Seventeen of those SoCal bicyclists have been the victims of hit-and-run drivers.

And he was the 15th person killed riding a bike in Southern California in the past 25 days.

Update: Now it makes a little more sense.

KABC-7 is reporting that the victim was actually struck by the driver at Van Nuys Boulevard at Delano Street.

The driver then continued south on Van Nuys, dragging the victim’s body nearly a mile to Van Nuys and Burbank. They made a U-turn at Burbank, dislodging the victim, before traveling north on Van Nuys then fleeing east on Hatteras.

Which means the victim, who died at the scene, was likely found at Van Nuys and Burbank. 

The station also describes the suspect vehicle as an older model, light-colored sedan. 

Update 2: The victim has been identified as 40-year old Trino Lopez, who police said was homeless. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Trino Lopez and his loved ones.

Update: 60-year old man killed riding bike near LAX; 3rd LA County bike rider killed in 3 days, 14th SoCal victim in 24 days

Another day, another person killed riding a bicycle on the mean streets of Los Angeles County.

For the third time in just the last three days, a bike rider died after being struck by a driver in the county.

This time in Los Angeles, just south of LAX.

According to the website 2 Urban Girls, the victim was run down by an eastbound motorist while attempting to ride south across busy Imperial Highway at California Street, around 8:35 pm yesterday.

He was identified only as a 60-year old man.

The driver remained at the scene. Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time; there’s no word on who may have had the right-of-way.

The intersection is controlled by a traffic signal, with four through lanes and a left turn lane in each direction on Imperial. That could make it difficult to cross the wide highway in the span of a short traffic signal cycle.

His death came after a woman died a day after she was struck by a driver in Santa Monica on Friday, and another man was killed riding his bike in Long Beach Saturday.

This is at least the 49th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 15th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also at least the seventh time a person was been killed riding a bicycle in Los Angeles since the start of the year.

And he was the 14th person killed riding a bike in Southern California in the past 24 days.

Update: The victim has been identified as 60-year old Robert Mack

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Robert Mack and his loved ones.

Update: Man riding bike killed in Long Beach crash; 13th SoCal bike rider killed in past 3 weeks

Please make it stop.

For the 13th time in the last 22 days, someone was killed riding a bicycle on the deadly streets of Southern California.

This time in Long Beach.

And just hours after another woman died in Santa Monica.

According to My News LA, a man was struck by a driver around 3:20 Saturday afternoon, while riding on Pacific Ave at Wardlow Road in front of the Metro Wardlow A Line station in west Long Beach.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, died after being taken to a local hospital.

The driver stayed at the scene, and cooperated with investigators.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time.

This is at least the 48th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 14th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; it’s also the fourth person killed riding a bicycle in bike-friendly Long Beach in 2023.

Update: At least now we know what happened. 

According to KCBS-2, the victim was riding across Pacific Place north of Wardlow when he was struck by a pickup driver traveling east on Pacific. He was struck with the side of the pickup, despite the driver’s attempt to swerve. 

Based on the description, it seems likely he was attempting to leave the Metro station, with no traffic signal or crosswalk to get across the roadways safely.

The driver, identified only as a 43-year old Long Beach resident, remained at the scene and attempted to resuscitate the victim before paramedics arrived. She reportedly cooperated with investigators, who said she did not appear to be distracted, impaired or speeding at the time of the crash. 

Anyone with information is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department at 562/570-7355. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his family.