An 81-year-old man was killed and a 50-year-old man remains in critical condition after an MTA bus struck them on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood on Monday night.
The men were struck in the 8800 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, at the intersection of Palm Avenue, around 11:40 p.m. Monday, said Sgt. Andrew Bedogne of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Transit Services Bureau.
The bus involved in the crash had been eastbound on Santa Monica Boulevard when the men were hit, Bedogne said. The crossing is not controlled by a light. All lanes along Santa Monica Boulevard have since reopened.
According to NBC-LA, a preliminary investigation suggests speed was not a factor, according to Lt. Sergio Aloma, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators are trying to determine who had the right-of-way and whether the men were in the crosswalk.
The bus ended up with a cracked windshield, a news photographer reported from the scene.The victims were taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where one was pronounced dead and the other was in critical condition, Bedogne said.
Deputies from the West Hollywood sheriff’s station are still investigating the incident.
– From City News Service reports
It is a shame. I was hit by a car in the bike lane earlier this year because someone couldn’t see me. You would think with the money the City of West Hollywood sits on top of- there would be better lighting, better crossing conditions such as lights, and more traffic control. However, the city will write this off, I’m sure as it usually does, and the stupidity of the city plan will continue on. Because if it doesn’t benefit “preserving” West Hollywood (or their precious mound of money- that is of course your the Mayor and you just want… Read more »
SOOOO SAD….MY WORST FEARS HAVE COME TRUE…..HERE’S WHAT I WROTE ON AUGUST 11, 2011 ON THE WEHO PATCH…..I HOPE THE FAMILIES SUE THE CRAP OUT OF THE CITY!!!!…..AND THE NEW LIGHTS THEY JUST INSTALLED AT A FEW OF THESE CROSSWALKS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS…..FLASHLIGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL….. me 9:27 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at least “most” crosswalks have traffic lights, but it was INSANE of the city to install 3 crosswalks on santa monica blvd (at hayworth, near koo koo roo, and near 24 hour fitness) and at least 2 on sunset blvd, one on crescent hts… Read more »
An infuriating and likely preventable tragedy. All of the crosswalks on Santa Monica Blvd are super-low visibility. They’re narrow, hidden by foliage, irregularly spaced, occasionally unmarked, and way too long. Exasperating.