Streetsblog Los Angeles

On June 12, 2011 Paul Livingston, an avid cyclist in the Los Angeles area, rode from Hollywood to the beach as he often did four or five times a week. On his way home, at approximately 6 pm he rode his bicycle through Beverly Hills. Just before City Hall on Santa Monica Boulevard., he was hit from behind by a car.

Paul Livingston (photo: Don Ward)

In that moment, Paul’s life flashed before his eyes as he remembers a LOUD crash, immediately thinking to himself, “Is this really happening to me right now?! Oh —-, this is really happening to me!” For the first twenty seconds, while lying alone on the cement, Paul couldn’t breathe. When he was finally able to take a breath, he realized he couldn’t move the lower portion of his body, but knew he needed to get off the street. Paul used his left arm to pull his torso up onto the curb as he heard a bystander saying, “The girl just took off!”

In that moment, realized the person who hit him was gone.

The last thing Paul remembers that day is being put on a stretcher before he woke up in a hospital bed six days later. He suffered spinal and pelvic fractures. His pelvic bone, broken in half and pushed upwards into his bladder had severed blood vessels causing him to bleed internally. When he was first admitted to the hospital he was hypotensive, which means his organs were shutting down with the lack of blood and his body was going into shock. Paul underwent three abdominal surgeries within the first two days just to stop the bleeding. On the fourth day, the doctors were able to fix his pelvis and then he went through spine surgery only to have pelvic surgery once again to get it back to its original position. Paul also suffered from post-operative infection from the abdominal surgeries. Finally, with his fever gone, he was healthy enough to have his spinal fusion – as a result, Paul is a bit shorter now.

“For the first time I was really excited because I was going to live and I was going to walk again,” Paul tells me as we sit outside his apartment on a sunny Loa Angeles day.

And with a smile, Paul tells me that after three painful months of rehabilitation, he was able to walk again… on his own.

I ask him about the person who hit him, self-identified as Victoria Chin. He tells me that during the time of his recuperation, he had been in touch with the Beverly Hills Police Department to find out what was going on with the woman who hit him and then ran. Apparently, they were dropping the ball on his case as they never even processed her car for evidence. And her explanation for not stopping, as given to the BHPD, “There was no place to park.” Read more…

In late 2009, Louis Deliz became the victim of the ever growing hit and run epidemic in Los Angeles. Louis spent eleven days in the I.C.U. and was kept alive by machines as he was out in a chemically induced coma for approximately 8 days, living at the hospital for a total of 49 days.

I first met with Louis in March 2010, roughly two months after he had been released from the hospital and wrote the story of his near-death experience on Bikesidela.org. Three years later, I met with Louis for a second time and found myself sitting cozily in his West Hollywood apartment next to his loving Service Dog, Lucy. He is still the same Louis I remember, but brighter, happier and more positive than ever.

Louis Deliz and his PTSD Service Dog Lucy. © Lydia Marcus Photography / www.lydiamarcus.com © Lydia Marcus Photography /www.lydiamarcus.com

Louis tells me Lucy was a friend’s dog that he had always taken care of while the friend was traveling. When this friend needed someone one to take care of Lucy for long term, Louis went through the steps to make Lucy his Service Dog. He jokes, his friend has “visitation rights” – but you would never know they have only been together for 6 months as it seems Louis and his chocolate labrador have been in each other’s lives for years. Lucy’s ultimate purpose is to help Louis as he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and Panic Disorder. The two spend every moment of every day together hiking, walking, shopping, exploring. Lucy even has her own carriage that is pulled off the back of Louis’ bike.

A half hour into our conversation, I notice Lucy’s agitation and constant grumbling toward Louis. Louis smiles, acknowledges Lucy’s persistency and takes his medication. All at once, my admiration for Lucy in Louis’ life multiplies. She is magical.

When I ask Louis what he has been up to for the past three years, he tells me that the Court Recorder sought him out after his trial. Though Louis wanted nothing to do with anyone let alone hear any advice, she finally got through to Louis and introduced him to Nichiren Diashonin Buddhism.

I am schooled in under twenty minutes. Read more…

Members of the East Side Riders and Los Ryderz bike clubs put a ghost bike up at the site where a cyclist was hit by the Blue Line train last month (photo courtesy of John Jones III)

Two new ghost bikes went up in South L.A. and Compton yesterday. One was to commemorate the death last month of Sylvester Henderson, 26, who was hit by the train while crossing the Blue Line tracks at the intersection of Grandee and Century Blvd.

Not much is known about Henderson’s death, unfortunately. Much to the consternation of Ted Rogers of bikinginla, the only official news of it seemed to be that of an L.A. Times photo in the print edition showing a bike with a taco-ed wheel said to belong to the as-yet unidentified victim laying on the tracks.

Metro couldn’t give me much information, either. A representative was unable to explain how or why Henderson ignored the flashing lights and lowered arms of the railroad signals.

Judging by the location of the bike in the photo (below) and the fact that Henderson was traveling eastbound against traffic, it is likely he either didn’t notice or didn’t pay attention to the gate arms and flashing lights because they weren’t directly in front of him. The Blue Line has few of the pedestrian safety gates that the Expo Line has, despite the fact that you are actually crossing four sets of tracks (two for the Blue Line and two for freight rail) in most locations. So, while gate arms may effectively block vehicular traffic, pedestrians and cyclists can (and often do) move uninhibited through that and the crossing at 103rd, thinking they can beat the train. Or, they are unaware of whether or not they should be crossing. When you get off the train at 103rd and are looking to cross Grandee, for example, the pedestrian walk signal is conveniently blocked by a telephone pole. Read more…

Maybe enough is finally enough.

Professional headshot for Dr. Catherine Campion

Last September, Dr. Catherine “Kit” Campion (she went privately as Kit Ritz) died following a hit and run crash that knocked her off her bicycle. After an arrest was made, residents of the Orange County beach town were stunned to discover that the maximum sentence the deadly driver could receive, despite being on probation for a break-in, was eight years.

Reacting to this tragedy, Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) introduced AB 956 (full text) which would increase the maximum sentence for hit and run offenses another five years. The purpose of the legislation is not just to increase the penalty, but also provide discouragement for deadly or dangerous drivers to leave the scene of a crash.

Under the current law, someone has to be guilty of “grossly negligent conduct” to receive the extra five years. AB 956 makes it so that all hit and run drivers would face a possibly longer sentence. The driver that killed Campion-Ritz

According to Mansoor’s office, under AB 956 suspects in vehicular manslaughter cases that don’t involve gross negligence ― cases such as the crash that killed Campion-Ritz, would also face those extra five years. Read more…

Every time a cyclist is struck down by a negligent driver, especially when a hit and run is involved, I shudder. Since most of my on-bike time these days involve having a child either strapped to a seat behind me or nestled in a car-seat attachment in front of me, every crash leaves a scary reminder that no matter how safe I bicycle, I’m reliant on every passing car not to crash into me.

When a struck cyclist happens to share my name, I double-shudder. When the case is as horrific of the one suffered by Damien Kevitt, it’s a triple shudder. Kevitt was struck by a mini-van while riding his bicycle and dragged more than a quarter mile, down Interstate 5.  The collision resulted in dozens of broken bones and the amputation of one of Kevitt’s legs. The driver fled the scene.

Damien Kevitt. Image via ABC 7

In a press statement today celebrating the movement of AB 184, legislation that could lead to more arrests and prosecutions of hit and run drivers, the bill’s sponsor referenced Kevitt’s horrific experience as one more reason that California needs to change the way it views hit and run crashes.

“Damien Kevitt is just one of thousands hit-and-run victims who suffer life-threatening injuries annually,” said Assemblyman Mike Gatto, the legislation’s sponsor.  “Allowing the perpetrators to avoid prosecution just adds insult to these injuries.  AB 184 will allow victims and law enforcement to obtain justice.”

Two pieces of news show that the moment created by L.A. Weekly’s ground-breaking article detailing Los Angeles’ hit and run epidemic will not be wasted. This morning, the Los Angeles City Council Public Safety Committee met to detail what is expected from an LAPD report on hit and runs and the city’s impact. Later, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-43) that extends the amount of time that one can be prosecuted for a hit and run crash.

Mike Gatto

Currently, motorists who flee the scene of a crash can simply ”run down the clock” to avoid any liability or prosecution. Gatto’s bill extends the statute of limitations for hit and run offenses to three years from the date of the offense, or one year after the suspect is identified by law enforcement, whichever is later.  Currently, if a hit and run driver is not identified within three years, he or she cannot be prosecuted. This change “starts the clock” when the driver is identified, not when a crash occurs.

The legislation, just introduced, is not numbered as of the writing of this article.

“Many hit-and-run victims suffer very serious injuries, often because they are unable to dial 9-1-1, and, of course, because the person fleeing the scene does not.  Allowing hit-and-run criminals to avoid prosecution just adds insult to these injuries,” said Gatto.

Eric Bruins, Planning & Policy Director for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, noted that bicyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to hit-and-run collisions that result in death or serious bodily injury.  “It’s hard for us to encourage people to bike and walk when our streets are treated like the Wild West,” said Bruins.  “The LA County Bicycle Coalition commends Assemblyman Gatto for bringing attention to this issue and giving hit-and-run victims hope that their perpetrators might be brought to justice once identified.” Read more…

Gardena police distributed a flyer with an image of the kind of vehicle they believe killed Benjamin Torres on Oct. 10, 2012.

If you’ve ever been the victim of a random act of violence, you know the deep anger and sadness it can inspire in a person. How it can make you question what you think you know about people. And how vulnerable it can leave you feeling.

For hit-and-run victims and/or their families, the wounds of a single incident can remain fresh and open indefinitely, especially if the perpetrator remains at large.

More than a month after the incident in which her stepfather, Benjamin Torres, was killed in a hit-and-run, Teresa Chaidez acknowledged her family was still in shock.

We are “full of anger” she wrote to me in an email. “We don’t understand how a person can possibly drive away, without remorse.”

She recounted an incident in which she, herself, had collided with a cyclist the year before. She had made sure the roadway was clear for her to make a right turn, she said, when she suddenly saw a cyclist directly in front of her.

“I felt like my life was over,” she recounted. “I stepped on my brakes, got out immediately and made sure he was OK. I offered to call 911, to take him to the hospital along with his bike. [But] he was fine. Thank God!…I was not speeding at all; I had [just] bumped into him.”

She felt so guilty for such a long time, she said, and had remained in contact with the cyclist, even emailing him recently to see how he and his family were doing and to relate the story of her stepfather’s death. Her own experience and remorse makes it even harder for her to understand how someone could have left Torres for dead in the street. Especially because the driver must have known just how badly they had hurt Torres. The impact was brutal — Torres suffered severe head injuries even though he had been wearing a helmet. And, there had been significant damage to the vehicle. The collision left debris strewn up and down the street.

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Benjamin Torres and his wife, Maria.

While the debris has made identification of the type of vehicle driven easier — Gardena police describe the vehicle as “a maroon or purple 1995-2001 Ford Explorer or 1997-2001 Mercury Mountaineer with matching trim” and note that it likely has “front passenger side collision damage, involving the front passenger side headlight and turn indicator” — finding the actual vehicle has proven more difficult.

Gardena Traffic Investigator Matthew Hassoldt says they have followed up on several leads but none took them to the car or driver. And there have been no tips.

It has now been about two months since the incident.

Fearing that the case would fade from the public’s consciousness, the East Side Riders (ESRBC) have pledged to the family that they would hold monthly rides in Torres’ honor. Read more…

A bike with a damaged rim convalesces at USC. (photo: sahra)

“Shut up, bitch!” the injured African-American cyclist snapped at the Latina woman on her phone sitting next to him. “You talk too much!”

“Hey!” she protested, giving him a dirty look.

He shifted his leg, grimaced in pain, and let out a big sigh.

The Latino gentleman hovering over the cyclist and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows, wondering how ugly this was going to get.

I had come upon the scene shortly after the cyclist had been hit. He had been knocked down as he left the sidewalk and crossed 78th St. (southbound) by a driver turning right to head north on S. Figueroa. He was still sitting in the street, glaring angrily up at the driver and the female passerby when I saw him.

I crossed the street to ask if the cyclist was OK and how I could help.

The cyclist kept grumbling and cursing to himself, and nobody seemed to know what to do next.

I checked out his leg to see if anything was broken and then suggested that we get him up out of the street so that he didn’t get hit again.

Relieved to be able to do something, the Latino man reached out to help him up.

But the cyclist would only take my hand.

“Come on, guy,” the driver said. “Let me help you.”

The cyclist clearly did not want his help and refused to touch him.

Only after realizing that I couldn’t lift him on my own did he allow the driver to help him up. But it wasn’t pretty. Much cursing was involved.

Together, we helped the older gentleman hobble his way over to the curb and tried to figure out what he needed.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to go the hospital. And when another passerby realized what happened and offered to call 911, the cyclist cut him off mid-call and said he didn’t want anyone to come to the scene. Yet, he was clearly in pain and wasn’t ready to get up and move anywhere on his own. And, he couldn’t really ride anywhere even if he wanted to — the front rim of his cruiser was pretty warped and scuffed up.

“I’m really sorry,” the driver continued to apologize, even as the guy waved him off and cursed at him. “Let me help you.”

The driver was now getting frustrated.

“Look, I didn’t go anywhere. I’m right here. I’m going to help you with your bike. We can put it in my truck. Let me take you to the hospital so we can make sure you are OK.”

Finally, they reached some agreement and we helped the cyclist up. The driver thanked me and began walking toward his truck with the hobbling cyclist.

Just as I moved to get back on my bike and head off, I heard someone yell, “hey!” at me. Read more…

Last summer Paul Livingston, an experienced cyclist of 15 years, was commuting along Santa Monica Blvd heading east through Beverly Hills. He began slowing as he approached a stale red light. Relaxed, it was about 6pm on a clear skied Sunday afternoon and his lane – the right lane – was clear. He was estimated to be moving at about 8 miles per hour. Suddenly his world changed forever. Witnesses describe an impatient and unpredictable driver racing in and out of pockets heading east towards the soon to be green light that Paul was approaching. Paul had no chance. He was smashed from behind and thrown. It was reported that the driver never braked but instead accelerated to get away after impact.

Paul Livingston

The impact was so harsh that Paul suffered multiple spinal and pelvic fractures, severe internal bleeding and abdominal injuries. He spent 6 days in a coma and another month in the hospital. Doctors performed spinal fusion surgery to 5 levels of his vertebrae. Because of his disability he was let go from his job at SIR Hollywood, and as a result his medical insurance was terminated. With no ability to work he lost his apartment soon after. Paul’s hospital bills add up to well over $1 million dollars. The driver not only left Paul with a massive hospital bill, she stole a life’s joy from him as he lie broken in the street that day. Paul may never again ride a bicycle. None of the witnesses that stayed managed to get a plate, just a vehicle description.

According to Beverly Hills PD a break came the next day when the alleged driver, Victoria Chin, phoned in to confess her crime. Detectives arranged for her to turn herself in that day. They requested she bring the car in as well. This is where things apparently got complicated for the Beverly Hills Detectives. After flaking on her first appointment, Chin showed up the following day along with a lawyer but without her car. Beverly Hills Detectives acknowledge that they failed to process her confession and they sent her home without booking or arresting her. Read more…

The car in question looks like this. The license plate is 6EGY041

Streetsblog received the following email from LAPD Sgt. David Krumer:

The victim of a hit and run (car vs bicycle) on December 13, 2011 (case #110 718 955) as riding southbound on Curson crossing Pico with a fully green light. He was hit by a car traveling westbound on Pico at 40 to 50 miles an hour. He was thrown across the intersection and suffered broken bones in the hand and wrist as well as a fractured tibia and a torn PCL in the knee. The driver never braked or turned away. The injuries sustained are life changing and have confined the victim to a wheelchair for at least a few more months.

SUSPECT VEHICLE: 2007 Mercedes CL 550, 2Dr, CP
LICENSE PLATE: 6EGY041
SUSPECT: Male Black, Short Black Hair, late 20′s

Anyone having information about the driver of suspect vehicle, or was a witness to the accident is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department West Traffic Division, Investigator Fischer at:
4849 W. Venice Blvd. LA 90019, Phone number (213) 473-0229 or
West Traffic Division Watch Commander, Phone No. (213) 473-0222

You’re probably wondering how the LAPD can have the license plate and not have the owner already in custody. Streetsblog has been assured that there are a lot of possible reasons, but that revealing which one could hamper the investigation.