Two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and a pedestrian were injured and one pedestrian was killed after a patrol car crashed last night on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, authorities said.
The accident was reported at 11:08 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Kyle Sandford. The wrecked vehicle landed in front of the MTA bus depot on the south side of Santa Monica Boulevard. One of the deputies was trapped in the patrol car, said sheriff’s Deputy Trina Schrader.
One of the pedestrians, whose identity has not been released died at a hospital. The two deputies were hospitalized in serious condition, and the second pedestrian’s condition was reported to be critical.
Cmdr. Keith Swensson said the deputies were responding to a report of a spousal assault. As their patrol car headed east on Santa Monica, it hit the rear of another car, ran over the curb and struck the male pedestrians, Swensson said. The patrol car was operating its lights and sirens at the time, and it was not known if the vehicle it struck had yielded, as required by law, Swensson said.
Santa Monica Boulevard from San Vicente to La Cienega was closed to traffic while the accident is being investigated.
“The city is deeply shaken and saddened by this tragic accident and death,” the City of West Hollywood said in a statement issued today. “Public safety is the City of West Hollywood’s number-one concern. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has requested assistance from the California Highway Patrol to conduct an independent investigation.
“The city is urging people who need counseling as a result of this incident to seek support through The Maple Counseling Center (TMCC). The City of West Hollywood has a long-standing relationship with The Maple Counseling Center and clinical staff is available to provide counseling sessions to West Hollywood community members. For additional information, please contact The Maple Counseling Center at (310) 271-9999.”
The accident occurred a day after a 31-year-old L.A. County sheriff’s deputy was killed and a 20-year-old woman was seriously injured in a head-on collision near Santa Clarita.
The collision occurred around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday near San Francisquito Canyon Road and Stator Lane and claimed the life of Deputy Brandon Arce, who worked at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic. Arce joined the sheriff’s department in fall 2007 and after graduating from the academy was sworn in as a deputy in 2008. He was the son of retired sheriff’s lieutenant Gilbert Arce and was engaged to be married.
@Jen – I agree that the alleged abuser created the possibility of this tragic situation, assuming it was a valid call. But let’s not assume it’s a “he” or “him”. I don’t know the exact statistics, but I do know that women make up a very large percentage of perpetrators when it comes to DV. When it comes to a serious issue like DV, it’s important not to stereotype.
There is already an eyewitness saying the sheriffs are lying they in fact pulled out too fast swerved never hit a car but hit the median and lost control. Typical for the Sheriffs to shift or deny blame in any situation.
Ya know gang…as I bow out of this conversation that is too negative to go anywhere, I have to say one last thing. I don’t know if law enforcement was right or wrong in this case. I’m not qualified to judge, only to feel sad for everyone on all sides of this tragic and life changing event. But I will say that when you have to stare down the barrel of a gun and have a split second – and I mean split of a split of a split – to make a decision that could cost or save your… Read more »
I live about a block from where this accident occurred, and I feel like I need to give some perspective to the geography of Santa Monica Blvd and the Sheriff Station. From where the sheriff exited the station on Santa Monica Blvd. to where the accident occurred is approximately 100 feet… maybe even less than that. Also, the exit from the Sheriff station is off the street and covered with a huge fence. If the Sheriff was speeding or even going BELOW the speed limit the other car would have had little to NO time to move over. I think… Read more »
From what I’ve heard, the deputies were reckless and tragically took someone’s life. The LASD commander who was interviewed shortly after was spouting some highly speculative conjecture about a vehicle not yielding which feels like a major bias to me
There are more than one MTA bus yard which are disignated as Divisions along with their number and the one in West Hollywood is Division 7. It’s not a bus terminal, it’s not a bus depot and all one has to do is read the sign out front.
I live about fifty yards from the accident and heard it. The patrol car’s siren sounded for at most 3 seconds before the impact with the tree. I am quite attuned to the sirens around hear, and am not mistaken. The impact was very audible, and the siren stopped immediately. That means they had just turned it on. Clearly not sufficient time for any normal citizen to react and yield. I walk SMB all the time and see Sheriffs speed all the time with no siren or lights. Many of the officers display cowboy mentalities and behavior. Last night I… Read more »
Publish the picture and name of the jerk who caused someone to have to call 911 for spousal abuse in the first place. It’s his fault.
Believe it or not, all emergency vehicles are required by law to observe speed limits. The lights and sirens are specifically to alert anyone in the area so that they yield to the emergency vehicle. Emergency vehicles are allowed to go the wrong way on a boulevard, they are allowed to go through stop signs, red lights etcetera but only after slowing to make sure their way is clear. You’ve have all seen that. They are not allowed to go over the speed limit. Hard to believe, eh? Here is what I believe, for the most part our sheriffs and… Read more »
Well said KPR.
Alison is the voice of reason. Thank you Alison. Have a good night all.
As said previously, this is a very sad story on all sides. I had family that lived in this lovely and fun neighborhood until just a few years ago and know the area well, and I have enjoyed many evenings in eateries and bars with my family. That being said, our officers are human beings who have been subjected to a lot of media hype and community anger in recent months — some deserved. But most officers are great and hard working men and women who put themselves out there every day to protect communities and their citizens. Twelve, fourteen… Read more »
fine7760 – Grand Central Terminal.