Pedestrian Accidents

Published on: October 12, 2009

Los Angeles Car Accident Injures Mother and Toddler Crossing the Street

By Brian Chase

A mother and her toddler sustained critical injuries in a car accident in Los Angeles the afternoon on October 9, 2009 after they were struck by a truck while crossing at a Hawthorne street intersection. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the woman and her 2-year-old child were in a crosswalk on Imperial Highway at Hawthorne Boulevard when a truck making a right turn on to Hawthorne hit them. The driver who stopped at the scene of the collision has not been arrested, as an investigation is pending. Traffic investigators are asking anyone who witnessed this accident to call Hawthorne police at 310-349-2700.
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Published on: August 17, 2009

Orange County Fatal Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

Gail Connelle, 64, was killed the night of August 13, 2009 in an Orange County car accident while crossing Beach Boulevard in Stanton, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Connelle was on her way to work at a Walgreens in Stanton. She was crossing Beach near Chapman Avenue when a 65-year-old man in a Lexus heading north on Beach, struck her. Connelle had just been dropped off by a bus across the street from her job, according to her brother Michael Caserta.

Connelle was hit when she began crossing the street eastbound. Police are currently looking into whether Connelle was walking in the crosswalk when she was hit by the car. Caserta says he cannot imagine his sister would try to cross Beach Boulevard, which an extremely busy street, at the hour, outside a crosswalk. Connelle sustained severe injuries and was taken to an area hospital, where she died shortly after the accident. No citations were issued, or arrests made, pending a police investigation.
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Published on: July 31, 2009

San Bernardino Hit-and-Run Car Accident Kills Boy

By Brian Chase

Kushan Bhandari, a 5-year-old boy was killed and his mother and brother were seriously injured in a San Bernardino car accident when the family was hit crossing a street in Big Bear Lake. According to an Associated Press news report, Sujana Bhandari, the mother, and her two sons–Kushan and 11-year-old Kushal–were crossing Big Bear Boulevard at an intersection the night of July 30, 2009, when they were struck by a sport utility vehicle. The 5-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The other boy and the mother were airlifted to an area hospital with injuries. Witnesses have described the suspect vehicle as a dark-colored SUV, possibly a dark green Chevy Tahoe.

My heart goes out to the Bhandari family for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of little Kushan Bhandari, especially to the mother and the older brother who witnessed the pedestrian accident and were themselves badly injured. I wish them both the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Published on: July 29, 2009

Orange County Pedestrian Accident Injures Woman

By Brian Chase

Two women were injured in a Garden Grove car accident the night of July 27, 2009 when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver, The Orange County Register reports. The male driver was reportedly traveling west on Westminster Avenue when he struck the two victims, who were crossing the street. One of the women suffered severe injuries including several broken bones. The other woman apparently suffered relatively minor injuries. The driver remained at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

I’m relieved that this woman did not suffer catastrophic or life threatening injuries in this car accident. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
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Published on: June 19, 2009

San Bernardino Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident Kills Skateboarder

By Brian Chase

Dustin Rogers Martin, 17, was killed in a San Bernardino County pedestrian accident after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, Dustin was riding a skateboard on Cottonwood Avenue near Poplar Street the morning of June 15, 2009 when he was hit by a sedan. The driver, Kenneth Stotelmyre, left the scene, but later returned with his father. Stotelmyre has been arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Dustin Rogers Martin for their heartbreaking and tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this young man. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were four fatalities and seven injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Hesperia. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 50 fatalities and 432 personal injuries involving pedestrian accidents were reported in 2007.

In this particular case, it’s not quite clear, based on the newspaper report, whose fault this fatal pedestrian accident was. Did the driver, Stotelmyre, have enough time to stop? How old is Stotelmyre? Was he distracted, driving reckless or driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances? These are all important questions that need to be answered to determine whether there was any negligence and also the level of negligence that may have existed here.
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Published on: June 18, 2009

San Bernardino County Pedestrian Accident Kills One in Chino

By Brian Chase

Meiyun Kang, 82, was killed in a San Bernardino pedestrian accident the morning of June 16, 2009, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. The Chino pedestrian accident occurred when 76-year-old Mary Lemos, who was driving a 2003 Honda Accord west on Riverside Drive near Cypress Avenue, struck Kang. Chino police officials said Kang attempted to cross Riverside from the south side and was hit by Lemos. A witness apparently told police that Kang crossed the street outside of the crosswalk area. Kang was pronounced dead at the scene. Lemos was uninjured. If you have more information about this fatal San Bernardino County pedestrian accident, please call Chino police at 909-590-5571.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Meiyun Kang. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Kang. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were three fatalities and 11 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Chino. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 50 fatalities and 432 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of pedestrian accidents.
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Published on: June 17, 2009

San Bernardino County Pedestrian Accident Kills One

By Brian Chase

Crystal Smith, a 16-year-old girl, was killed in a San Bernardino County pedestrian accident after she was struck by a motorist while crossing Highway 395 early morning June 13, 2009, the San Bernardino Sun reports. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials, who are investigating the fatal car versus pedestrian accident, say the driver of a Chevy Cavalier, a 28-year-old woman, did not see Crystal crossing the Adelanto street because of a tractor-trailer that was driving north in the lane next to her.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Crystal Smith for their tragic and untimely loss. My heart especially goes out to the girl’s parents. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were no fatalities and one personal injury involving pedestrian accidents in Adelanto. It would seem pedestrian accidents are not all that common in Adelanto. However, in San Bernardino County as a whole, it’s a different story. In 2007, 50 fatalities and 432 personal injuries were reported in San Bernardino County as a result of pedestrian accidents.
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Published on: June 11, 2009

Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident Seriously Injures Toddler

By Brian Chase

A 17-month-old boy was struck and seriously injured in a Los Angeles hit-and-run pedestrian accident the night of June 10, 2009, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. Los Angeles police officials say the pedestrian accident occurred in the 21100 block of Saticoy Street near Variel Avenue. The toddler’s father, Edgar Rencinos, was apparently pushing his son in a stroller alongside the boy’s mother when the car accident occurred. Rencinos says he had the green light to cross the street. The family started walking across the street when a black Lincoln Town Car made a left turn and struck Edgar and the stroller.

Both the father and infant were thrown 25 feet into the air before they came crashing down on the ground. The driver did not stop and fled the scene of the car accident. The toddler, whose name has not been released, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. Rencinos and the boy’s mother were not seriously hurt.

The suspect vehicle is descried as a black 1990s sedan. Rencinos said the Town Car had the letters “TCP” on the bumper, which means it could have been a limo driver. If you have information about this hit-and-run pedestrian accident, please contact LAPD investigators at 1-877-5273-247.

First of all, I’m extremely relieved that this little boy did not suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries. More current news reports suggest that the child is in stable condition. I hope and pray that he makes a quick and complete recovery. Please keep this family in your prayers.
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Published on: June 4, 2009

Los Angeles County Pedestrian Accident Kills Man In Lancaster

By Brian Chase

A 55-year-old man was struck and killed in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident the night of June 2, 2009, Los Angeles police officials said. According to an article in the Los Angeles Daily News, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the 2600 block of West Avenue K near 27th Street West. The pedestrian, who has not yet been identified, was walking west on the south side of Avenue K and had just stepped out into the street when he was hit by a car heading west in the number two lane and driven by 41-year-old Alea Adams. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to the family of this pedestrian for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were five pedestrian involved fatal accidents and 41 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Lancaster. In Los Angeles County, 210 deaths and 5,095 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.
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Published on: June 2, 2009

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Critically Injures Woman

By Brian Chase

A 25-year-old woman was critically injured in a Los Angeles pedestrian accident the afternoon of June 1, 2009, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The woman was struck after an out-of-control car slammed into a bus stop in Van Nuys where the woman had been waiting, and dragged her several feet across pavement before coming to stop between a tree and a power pole.

Residents from a nearby apartment complex who saw the horrific Van Nuys car-pedestrian accident rushed to the scene, lifted the car and pulled her out from under it and revived her, Los Angeles police officials said. The accident occurred along the 14000 block of West Vanowen Street and Tyrone Avenue. The injured woman was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. LAPD officials say the pedestrian accident scene was extremely chaotic, everybody was in shock and that the bus bench was “in a million pieces.” The driver, who lost control of the four-door Infinity sedan, was also taken to a hospital, although his condition is not known. It is not clear why the driver lost control. Three other women also suffered minor personal injuries in this car-pedestrian accident.

My heart goes out to all who were injured in this pedestrian-car accident, especially the 25-year-old woman who was struck and then dragged by the car. I commend the neighbors who ran out of their homes to help this injured victim. I wish the young woman the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.
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