Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
"Accidents"

Update on Last Week’s DASH Crash and Pedestrian Fatality

1_13_09_post.jpg

News and opinion continues to come in on last week's horrific crash between a DASH bus and 58 year old pedestrian Gwendolyn Coleman.  The most important of which came yesterday when Steve Hymon reported at LA Now that the police have determined that Coleman had the right away and a green light when the DASH bus slammed into her.

Gwendolyn Coleman, 58, of Burbank was hit by a city of Los AngelesDASH bus at 5th and Flower streets about 6:35 a.m. Coleman had thegreen light to cross and the driver of the bus did not see her becauseof a blind spot, said Richard French, a spokesman for the Los AngelesPolice Department.

The DASH bus was turning from 5th onto Flower when the accidenthappened. First Transit, the company that operates the buses for thecity, said Thursday that the driver of the bus had been put onsuspension pending an investigation.

Putting aside my dislike of the word "accident," there is one other problem with this statement from the LAPD.  If Coleman was crossing the intersection legally, the "blind spot" is either such a severe flaw that the intersection should be closed immediately or is a result of a driver that wasn't paying close attention.  Either way, we're a long way away from a resolution to this issue.

In other news, last week LAist reported that an impromptu memorial to Coleman was erected at the crash site and today City Watch wonders how with pedestrians getting struck down the City Council can possibly be considering raising speed limits.

Photo: Tom Andrews/LAist

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

L.A. City Approves Measure HLA Ordinance

Both City Council and Mayor approved the city HLA ordinance, which goes into effect on August 18.

July 17, 2025

Supes Move to Restore Measure J

Supes look to fix an oopsie that lead to accidentally repealing criminal justice reforms.

July 16, 2025

City Breaks Ground on Mid-City Greenways Bike/Walk Improvements

The 4+mile Mid-City Greenways project is focused on three streets: Rosewood Avenue, Formosa Avenue, and Orange Drive

July 15, 2025
See all posts