An elderly woman, who was killed in a pedestrian accident in Los Angeles has been identified by authorities as 82-year-old Mei Chen. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the deadly pedestrian collision occurred at Garvey and Walnut Grove avenues the afternoon of February 10, 2012. Police say Chen was in a marked crosswalk when she was hit by a tour bus that was trying to turn right at the intersection. Chen suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation is ongoing.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone who knew and loved Mei Chen for their terrible loss. This grieving family will be in my prayers.

LA Crash Statistics

There were 554 deaths and 50,817 injuries involving car accidents in Los Angeles County, according to the California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, countywide, 179 people died and 4,918 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Laws and Liability Issues

It is unclear from this report as to why the driver of the tour bus failed to yield the right-of-way to Chen who was walking in a crosswalk at the time.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection."

If the driver is determined to have been negligent or at fault, then, the bus driver and his or her employer, the tour bus company, can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. A knowledgeable Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether a dangerous condition at the intersection caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.

January 25, 2012--Reno, NV--a shuttle bus carrying tourists from Harrah's to Reno-Tahoe International Airport crashed Tuesday morning, injuring one passenger.  Nevada State Police say that a mechanical failure was the cause of the bus accident.

The accident occurred on Highway 50 near Tahoe, when the shuttle carrying 18 passengers and driven by 57-year-old Cynthia Hendrickson spun around in the road and crashed into a concrete median.  A broken drive shaft was determined to have caused the bus to spin out of control. Read full story »

A school bus accident the afternoon of January 12, 2012 resulted in injuries for a bicyclist, who officials said, was a man in his 40s. The Orange County Register reports that the accident happened at Lincoln Avenue and Empire Street when an Anaheim Union High School District bus, which was not carrying any students, struck the bicyclist. The man was pinned under the bus. However, he did not suffer critical injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officials are looking into what caused this bus versus bicycle accident.

My heart goes out to this injured bicycle accident victim. It is indeed fortunate that his injuries were not life-threatening. I pray that he recovers swiftly and fully from whatever injuries he has suffered.

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An elderly man who was killed in a car accident in Los Angeles has been identified as 70-year-old Patrick John McIlroy. CBS News reports that the fatal hit-and-run crash occurred the morning of August 28, 2011 on Saticoy Street near Atoll Avenue. Officials say McIlroy was struck by a four-door sedan that was westbound on Saticoy. The driver fled the scene of the crash and McIlroy was pronounced dead. The driver turned herself in to police later that day. She has been identified as Alicia Carolina Benites, 21. Benites has been charged with felony hit-and-run.

My heartfelt condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved Patrick John McIlroy for their tragic loss. This grieving family will be in my prayers.

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A man was fatally injured in a motorcycle versus bus accident in Los Angeles the afternoon of February 7, 2011. The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that the fatal accident happened at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Mountain Avenue in Claremont, when a Foothill Transit bus struck the man's motorcycle. Investigators are still trying to determine who was at fault. No one else was injured.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved the deceased victim of this motorcycle accident. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

Motorcycle Accidents

There were 114 deaths and 2,934 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles County, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the city of Claremont, there were no deaths, but three injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents during the same year. Read full story »

A bicycle accident in Fullerton resulted in major injuries for a man the evening of January 26, 2011. The Orange County Register reports that the injury bicycle accident happened at the intersection of Euclid Street and West Laguna Road. The man in his 60s, who was riding a mountain bike, was hit by a northbound OCTA bus as he attempted to cross Euclid. An investigation is ongoing.

I hope this person did not sustain catastrophic injuries. I wish him the very best for a swift and full recovery. He will be in my prayers.

Car Accident Statistics

There were four fatalities and 743 injuries involving car accidents in Fullerton, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). During the same year, 152 people died and 13,414 were injured as a result of Orange County car accidents. Read full story »

A fatal pedestrian accident in Palo Alto, which killed 52-year-old Sheena Marie Barker the morning of December 30, 2010, was the second such recent accident at that intersection. The Palo Alto Patch reports that the fatal car accident happened at the intersection of Webster Street and University Avenue when Barker was walking in a marked crosswalk. She was hit by a SamTrans bus that was making a left turn.

According to Palo Alto Online, this pedestrian versus bus accident is similar to another collision in October 2007 when an elderly man was knocked down by a left-turning SanTrans bus as he was crossing at the same intersection. In that case, Kin-Jian Huo suffered a skull fracture.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Sheena Marie Barker. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers. Read full story »