A pedestrian was killed while crossing a South Los Angeles intersection Sunday night. He died from his injuries at the hospital. The driver was arrested and booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter.
Francisco Lopez, a 54-year-old, was making an attempt to cross the Compton Avenue intersection near 57th Avenue when he was hit and thrown to the ground by a speeding vehicle.
Los Angeles Police Department Central Traffic Sgt. Kevin Custard said authorities received a phone call around 9 p.m. regarding the incident.
Israel Gutierrez, an 18-year-old, was behind the wheel of a 1996 Honda Prelude southbound on Compton Avenue when he struck Lopez.
“The Honda was southbound on Compton Avenue and the pedestrian was crossing the roadway when the vehicle struck him,” Custard said.
Medical respondents rushed to the scene of the accident and attended to Lopez who was reportedly knocked under a van. After extricating the victim, they transported him to County-USC Medical Center where doctors attempted to treat his injuries before he died.
Custard told reporters that in addition to hitting the pedestrian, Gutierrez managed to hit a parked vehicle in the Los Angeles car accident.
Witnesses alleged that Gutierrez was traveling at a high rate of speed prior to the wreck.
Authorities say that the driver of the Honda was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was licensed. He was also transported to County-USC Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries.
Detectives were at the scene scraping through the site for further evidence and cleanup crews did their part after and cleared the site of vehicle debris.
Investigators will continue to work on the case.
Pedestrian accidents in Los Angeles happen unexpectedly from time to time. They can be a result of a variety of reasons, which can include: speeding vehicles, intoxicated drivers, crossing intersections at unmarked locations, distracted driving or walking, or out-of-control vehicles.
It is recommended that pedestrians stay on the look-out and remain aware of their surroundings while crossing a public street, especially in large cities like Los Angeles. They are asked to refrain from distracting activities that engulf the attention of the crossing pedestrian such as texting-while-crossing but even then, accidents do happen.
If you were injured in a wreck in the city of Angels, contact a Los Angeles car accident lawyer from AA Accident Attorneys. You will get a free consultation from the attorneys that have helped their clients collect millions of dollars in compensation.
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