UPDATE: The watch sergeant at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station said Sunday that the young man hit in the pedestrian accident on Santa Monica Boulevard on Friday night was operated on at Cedars-Sinai Hospital and no longer is in critical condition.
A young man is in Cedars-Sinai Hospital after being hit by a car last night while crossing Santa Monica Boulevard.
The accident occurred at about 10:50 p.m. at 8914 Santa Monica according to Sgt. Lance Eddins of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. Eddins said the young man was walking north across Santa Monica. At this point there is no information as to whether he was in a pedestrian crosswalk when he was hit.
Eddins said that the driver, whose identity he did not have, was arrested for driving without a license. People on Santa Monica Boulevard last night reported seeing a car there with a smashed windshield covered in blood.
With last night’s accident, the number of pedestrians hit by vehicles while crossing the street in West Hollywood totals 18 so far this year. There were 28 pedestrian crosswalk accidents in 2012 and 22 last year. Not all of the accidents this year occurred in crosswalks.
The death in August of Clinton Bounds, a man who was popular in WeHo’s Boystown nightlife community, prompted major protests by residents about what they perceived as the city’s lack of attention to pedestrian safety. In response, the City Council in October agreed to implement a number of short-term measures, such as stationing lighted signs warned drivers to be aware of pedestrians, and to create a public safety marketing campaign that includes street signs at bus shelters and a popular online video. The city is also implementing more long-term measures, which include installing stoplights at some Santa Monica Boulevard crosswalks that will be synchronized with existing stoplights at intersections.
I agree with Alison and kab1200. There is only so much that can be done. I’ve been an advocate of bridges or underground walkways for years. I went to a university where a major road went through the middle of the campus. There were underground walkways everywhere. And now is the time to really think about this and demand we get an underground walkway at the new LaCienega/Sunset complex (which I read the city council agreed to eliminate from the plans). Really dumb idea! I think two above ground bridges could be pretty fabulous. They could be modern looking, a… Read more »
Tom – I get my facts from WeHo news, then apply a modest amount of basic common sense. Again, could you or someone please present a scenario when the driver wasn’t charged except for no license other than jaywalking? That’s a reasonable request. Do you think the LA Co Sheriff’s dept now is permitting open season on WeHo bargoers? Or some celebrity was involved and was permitted to drive off? I eagerly await your alternative scenario to the obvious deduction that this was a case of jaywalking. Happy to be proven wrong, but you need to present some fact-based theories… Read more »
My goodness, what do you want the City to do, hold your hand while you cross the street? You people wanted mid-block crosswalks and you got them, then you wanted flashing lights on some of them and you got them. If people paid attention to what they are doing, remembered the lessons their mama’s taught them when they were 6 about crossing the street, paid attention to the laws about jaywalking, these things wouldn’t be happening. Take responsibility for your own actions. We do not live in a nanny state. What you all are asking for with bridges, more flashing… Read more »
I agree Alison, but I do think they should have put a bridge or two in, instead of the newer crosswalks, because the crosswalks cause major traffic delays. Otherwise, I concur. And I know you were being sarcastic about closing the bars, and I get it.
I totally agree with Randy. Chris, where are you getting your facts? Please provide your source. Regardless of who is at fault, there’s obviously a problem here and City Hall IS responsible and must take the lead. I’d like to see some lawsuits from these accidents and now THREE DEATHS. Maybe that will wake up city hall. Whether their action is better enforcement (tickets), better lighting or what have you, there IS a problem and doing nothing is not an option.
Randy – we have known facts. The driver wasn’t charged except for driving without a license. I’d be happy to hear why that doesn’t make it appear that jaywalking involved. There were many witnesses.
Again, please explain why it is “shameful” to use this factual information to make a judgment about how this occured.
So many people who are so quick to offer a firm opinion on something they didn’t even witness. Shame on anyone who judged the actions of the pedestrian (or driver), without actually knowing what happened.
City Hall could ask the Sheriff’s Department to ticket jaywalkers. City Hall could ask the Sheriff’s Department to ticket drivers who don’t yield and distracted drivers. Through simple enforcement efforts used by hundreds of cities, City Hall could send the word out that there’s no longer tolerance for crosswalk incidents.
They’re not going to do any of the above. They’re not interested.
Absolutely ridiculous. Government does many things to protect us from ourselves. From seat belts to motorcycle helmets and much, much more. It IS their responsibility to keep people safe. Wake up city hall.
Yes Tom Smart, as I said, there are already rules and street lights and crosswalks to use. It is up to the individual to follow them and use them. And, as a pedestrian, never take their eyes off the cars as they are crossing. End of story.
@petep: but drivers DO flaunt the laws. I was lured to a younger friend’s bday party a few weeks ago on a saturday night at the Abbey and I left around 1:30am. I parked in the garage off of Robertson. It literally was one drunk person stammering to their car after another, and they all got, shoddily backed out of their spots and took off. The pedestrians certainly have a role to play here but in a city that happily parades its endless number of bars and nightclubs and promotes its city, pride event, halloween and go go boy festival… Read more »
Bernadette, why is it the city’s responsibility to do anything? This is what is so wrong with the world right now, no one takes responsibility for their own actions. It is up to each and everyone of us to take care of ourselves. There are things in place, that if used properly, help us to get where we need to go. Now you want the city to take the blame for drunk and drugged people who do whatever they want and throw caution to the wind? Wow.
Thank you kab1200. Finally another person sees it the way I do. As I stated way up top of these comments, it is time for personal responsibility. Thank you Thank you Thank you.
Maybe it’s time to put up barriers along SMB to keep people from walking into traffic. I know that sometimes it’s the driver’s fault when a pedestrian is hit while legally crossing in a crosswalk, but the pedestrians in WeHo are out of control. This includes jaywalkers as well as pedestrains at mid-block crosswalks who jump into traffic without regard for oncoming traffic and pedestrians at signaled intersections who decide to cross a wide street with only 1 or 2 seconds left in the cycle. If drivers flaunted the law as flagrantly as pedestrians and bikers, it would be pandemonium.… Read more »
Joseph… I am a friend of the gentlemen that was hit and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying with him. I’ve been in shock ever since I got the news
Would love an update on the poor guy regardless of who was at fault.