Tag Archive for West Adams

Update: 42-year old Oscar Guardado killed riding bicycle in South LA hit-and-run; 17th SoCal bicycling hit-and-run death this year

Sometimes it seems like they just don’t want us to know how deadly our streets really are.

Far too often, when people riding bicycles in Los Angeles are killed or seriously injured in traffic violence, it never makes the news.

Or even a lousy LAPD press release.

Not even for a hit-and-run, where notifying the public could help identify and capture the suspect — which is why we have hit-and-run alert systems on both the local and state level that somehow never get used.

Yet that was the case yet again last month, when 42-year old Oscar Guardado was killed in a hit-and-run while riding his bike in LA’s West Adams neighborhood.

According to a fundraising page posted by his daughter, Guardado died on October 27th when he was struck by a drunk driver, who fled the scene afterwards; unfortunately, it’s only raised $825 of the modest $7,000 goal for funeral expenses.

Guardado’s death was confirmed by the County Medical Examiner’s office.

An attorney’s promotional page places the crash on the 2200 block of South Normandie Ave, at 10:12 pm, but does not say how they came by the information.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know right now.

There’s no word on how the crash occurred, whether an arrest has been made, or how they know the driver was under the influence.

There’s also no word on how many other cases like this could be out there that we’ve never heard about, either.

This is at least the 47th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 14th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Seventeen of those SoCal deaths we know about have been hit-and-runs.

Update: The LAPD has finally gotten around to letting us know about this crash. 

At a press conference on Monday, November 17th — a full 20 days after the fatal hit-and-run — detectives confirmed that Oscar Ernesto Guardado was stuck by a driver at Normandie Ave and W 23rd Street at 9:55 pm on the night of October 27th.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black four-door sedan, but there’s no description of the driver at this time. Security video shows there may be other witnesses to the crash who have not yet come forward. 

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Sgt. Garbiel Nily of the South Traffic Division at 323/421-2500, or call the South Traffic Division Watch Commander after business hours at 323/421-2577.

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

Although the odds of finding the suspect would have been much higher had the department made this announcement in the hours after the crash, rather than weeks later. 

Meanwhile, the crowdfunding page to help pay for Guardado’s funeral expenses has still raised only $1,400. If you have any extra money lying around, maybe you can give them hand.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Oscar Guardado and all his family and loved ones.

Thanks to someone who prefers to remain anonymous for the heads-up, and for putting the information together. 

Man in 50s killed killed riding bike in crosswalk in West Adams hit-and-run

Once again, a Southern California driver has left an innocent victim to die alone in the street.

According to multiple sources, a man was killed when he was struck by a driver LA’s West Adams neighborhood late Thursday night.

The crash occurred as he was while riding his bike in a crosswalk at the intersection of Hauser Blvd and Adams Blvd around 11:35 pm.

The victim died at the scene. He’s identified only as a Hispanic man in his 50s, who appeared to be homeless.

The driver fled following the crash; no description was given of the suspect or their vehicle.

Anyone with information is urged to call 877/527-3247.

This is at least the 72nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 23rd that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; he’s also the 13th person killed riding a bike in the City of Los Angeles.

Twenty-three of those SoCal victims have been killed by hit-and-run drivers.

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

Thanks to bike lawyer James Johnson for the heads-up. 

60-year old man killed riding bike in early morning West Adams crash; driver booked on DUI

Once again, someone got behind the wheel after having too much to drink.

And once again, an innocent person paid the price.

According to KCBS-2/KCAL-9, the victim was riding his bike west on West Adams Blvd near South Redondo Blvd in LA’s West Adams neighborhood around 3 am this morning when he was run down from behind.

KTLA-5 places the location of the crash one block west on West Adams near South Cloverdale Ave.

After hitting him, the 20-something driver continued on to smash into a parked car.

The victim, described only as a 60-year old man, died at the scene. Police note that he was not homeless, despite the early morning hour.

They also say the area is well-lighted and not considered dangerous for people on bicycles, and that the victim had lights on his bike; video from the scene clearly shows front and rear blinking lights.

Which means there was no excuse for taking the life of an innocent human being.

As if there ever is.

This is at least the 67th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 30th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County; half of those deaths have occurred in the City of Los Angeles.

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

Thanks to John Damman for the heads-up.

BOLO ALERT: Driver of blue car fled the scene after dooring woman near Fairfax and La Cienega Thursday night

Thursday's dooring victim; I'm not identifying the victim at this time since I have not been in direct contact with her family.

The victim of Thursday’s dooring in the hospital; she is not being identified at this time since I have not been in direct contact with her family.

A woman was seriously injured in a hit-and-run dooring while riding on the western edge of the West Adams district.

According to reports, the collision occurred near the intersection of La Cienega Blvd and Fairfax Ave, between West Jefferson and Washington Blvds around 10 pm Thursday night.

The driver stayed long enough to pull the victim out of the street, but took off after nearby valets called 911.

Her husband arrived on the scene while the suspects were still there, but they lied to him by saying the driver had already left the scene. He identifies the car only as a blue sedan with a license plate starting with H20.

I’m not sure if the police have been contacted yet. So if you may have seen the incident or have any information, email me at the address on the About page, and I’ll forward it to the appropriate people.

Dooring is always the fault of the driver or passenger; CVC 22517 requires anyone opening a door into traffic to wait until it’s safe to do so and can be done without interfering with traffic.

Let’s spread the news and see if we can catch these guys.

Update: I’m told the victim suffered a partially collapsed lung, broken clavicle and required multiple staples for a head wound; she was in surgery as this is being written. 

A gofundme account established to help defray medical expenses has raised $6,000 of a requested $10,000 in just three hours; she’ll need a lot more than that to pay for hospitalization and surgery.

Thanks to Kyle Murray for providing information in this case.