Two drivers who struck a 13-year-old girl who was crossing Sunset Boulevard on her way to catch her school bus have not been charged in her death, Los Angeles police announced late Friday.
The preliminary investigation into the Friday morning incident raises the possibility that it was a tragic accident rather than a hit-and-run crime, as was initially believed, said Los Angeles police Capt. Nancy Lauer.
“At this point, we have not arrested nor have we booked either of the drivers,” she said. “It appears to be a horrible accident.”
Julia Siegler, an eighth-grader at Harvard-Westlake School, was struck about 7:20 a.m. and rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where she died.
Early reports indicated that Siegler was struck by two hit-and-run drivers, but police indicated at the late-night news conference that this was not the case. Instead, Lauer said, witnesses said the girl was crossing the street on a red signal and was grazed by the side-view mirror of one car, which knocked her off balance. A second vehicle, driven by a juvenile, then ran her over.
Both drivers stopped at the scene, which was described as “extremely chaotic,” Lauer said. They remained at the accident site until the girl was taken by ambulance to the hospital, Lauer said.
A Lexus Hybrid SUV, pulling out of Lower Palisades Circle to make a left hand turn, was struck by a truck heading up Palisades Drive this morning. Only minor injuries were reported.
Several accidents have occurred at the intersection and residents of the Palisades Highlands have asked city officials, in the past, for a controlled intersection at Palisades Drive and Lower Palisades Circle. The requests were denied. The intersections in this part of Palisades Drive are particularly dangerous because the slope of the incline prevents good visibility for both drivers coming up the hill and drivers attempting to turn left.
-
- LAPD Trains Volunteers to use Radar Speed Guns
-
- LAPD Trains Volunteers to use Radar Speed Guns
LAPD and volunteers from Safe Westside are working together to form citizen Speedwatch teams. The teams will be monitoring speeders, taking their photographs and reporting them to LAPD for further action. For more information, or if you want to volunteer, send us an email at speedwatch@safepalisades.com.
This is a map of the signatures collected in the first 36 hours that the petition went live… So far, we’ve collected over a thousand, and we’ll make another big push in coming weeks to broaden the base, especially in the Highlands.
For those of you who are more Facebook-inclined, Eric Bollens has started a Community Page for Safe Westside. Here are several things we can expect to see in coming weeks that will be communicated and organized, at least partially, through this group:
- LICENSE PLATE REPORTING PROGRAM. In the next week or so, a web application will go up that will allow travelers to report cars driving recklessly or at excessive speed on Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard. While regular citizens cannot write tickets, LAPD is involved with this community effort and will be sending out letters to all reported speeders and going even further in extreme cases; the plates will also be published on the website and sent to the Palisadian Post to raise awareness.
- CITIZEN RADAR PROGRAM. This is the next step of the license plate reporting program. The LAPD has offered to train citizens as radar operators and then dispatch them in pairs, an operator and a spotter, to collect information on speeders on Palisades Drive. At the Rustic Canyon meeting, there were more than ten volunteers that were willing to spend the time to get trained and make a six month commitment as operators. However, these people, once trained, will need spotters to write down the plates once they clock the cars. For students in high school, this is even an opportunity to get community service while truly, truly making a difference.
- COMMUNITY AWARENESS VIDEO. Currently in the early planning stages, we are looking to put together a video to raise community awareness about the dangers involved with speeding and reckless driving. We’re looking for ideas on exactly how to put this together, as well as people willing to speak, even just for a few second clip, about how they have been impacted.
- SPEAKING OUT. In the coming months, the LAPD, local schools, and community groups will be looking for people willing to come and speak at school assemblies and for other events. For those who willing to share their own personal experiences, no matter how hard they may be to share, this is probably one of the best ways to reach others and warn them of the dangers in speeding.
- THE PLEDGE. Last week, the beginnings of a Pledge were drawn up. The exact language of this Pledge is still being worked on, but essentially those that pledge will promise never to speed or drive recklessly again and to take positive efforts to stop others from doing so as well. A website will be put up where all the pledgers’ names will be published, and decals will also be offered that can be placed on a car to show the driver has pledged.
[youtube]-IOHMTbVOLM[/youtube]
Bill Rosendahl – I am not going to react without a commitment from the Highlands and the 6000 people up there…
[youtube]kTmzvoPfOLw[/youtube]
Bill Rosendahl set’s up the landscape of roadblocks for this initiative: Highlands Homeowner’s Associations, Community Council, LADOT and the Mayor.
[youtube]RNjTgX-kx2g[/youtube]
John Fisher of the LADOT discribes Candlestick Delineators
[youtube]o-mHAoPhCx4[/youtube]
LAPD Captain Nancy Lauer discusses the LAPDs traffic enforcement strategy for the Westside.
[youtube]f2VvqB_vS4c[/youtube]
LAFD Chief Randy Beaty discusses keeping teen drivers safe by putting them in the right car… a Volvo.
