California Injury Blog
LAPD investigators are working to determine whether a crime occurred when a casino tour bus fled the scene where he ran over and killed a pedestrian the previous day in University Park. According to a KTLA news report, the Samho Tour & Travel bus was eventually found at a storage yard in Gardena late on Jan. 10, hours after its driver fatally struck and dragged a man near the corner of Flower Street and Adams Boulevard. The vehicle has since been owed to an LAPD facility to be processed as evidence.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators told KTLA that an analysis of the tour bus turned up blood and body tissue, which indicates they have the correct bus in their custody. The investigation that follows will hinge on whether the bus driver was aware he had hit a person. The victim, a 77-year-old man, was dragged more than 900 feet after impact before he was dislodged at Adams Boulevard. Palm prints were found on the side of the bus, officials said.
The crash scene was near Metro station and 23rd Street, which leads detectives to believe he may have been trying to get to the platform. One witness told officials she saw someone under the bus hanging on to his life. The woman said she honked to get the bus driver’s attention, but he did nor respond or stop.
Investigators are looking into whether the bus driver was aware he had someone pinned under the bus who was getting dragged. Detectives say driver fatigue may also be a factor because the driver had just completed a four-day trip in which he drove the bus more than 2,000 miles. Police expect to complete their investigation in the next few days.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the elderly victim who was killed in this bus crash. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Liability Issues
In this particular case, the bus driver and tour bus company can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death depending on what the investigation reveals. In such cases, family members of deceased victims can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Los Angeles bus accident lawyer can help families stay on top of the official investigation and protect their legal rights.
Source: https://ktla.com/2019/01/11/police-investigating-whether-tour-bus-crash-that-killed-pedestrian-in-university-park-was-criminal-in-nature/