One Dead, Eleven Injured When Car Hits Crowd on Venice Beach Boardwalk

VENICE - One person died and eleven were injured, when a car struck at least a dozen pedestrians on the busy Venice Beach Boardwalk Saturday evening.

A flurry of 9-1-1 calls at 6:01 PM on August 3, 2013 brought an augmented response of Los Angeles Fire Department crews to Ocean Front Walk near Dudley Avenue, where they found County of Los Angeles Fire Department Lifeguard Paramedics caring for the first of twelve injured persons along a quarter-mile corridor at the globally popular tourist destination.


With well practiced precision, Los Angeles Firefighters and Lifeguards performed a swift and effective triage of a dozen adults, including one person in grave condition, another with critical injuries, a pair in serious condition and eight with minor injuries. Two of the minor injuries declined ambulance transportation.

A fleet of nine LAFD Paramedic Ambulances rushed the ten patients to a trio of regional hospitals, including Marina Del Rey Hospital, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Los Angeles Police Department later announced that the gravely injured woman succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.

A positive identification of the deceased woman, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of her death will be determined the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

Though other pedestrians on the crowded boardwalk may have been injured by the vehicle - or in an attempt to avoid it, neither the motorist or additional injured persons were discovered at the scene by Fire Department responders.

The incident remains the focus of an active Los Angeles Police Department investigation.

Dispatched LAFD Units: E63 RA63 E263 T63 E62 RA62 E67 HR56 EM9 BC4 UR88 E59 E269 T69 E292 T92 E43 DC1 BC9 RA59 RA69 RA92 RA43 RA19 EM11 EM14 RA869 RA826 RA858 RA58 RA264 RA37 RA5

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Small Plane Crashes on Cal State Northridge Campus

NORTHRIDGE - The crash of a small single-engine plane attempting to make an emergency landing on a college athletic field Sunday afternoon, sent the plane's two occupants to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received an emergency call from the Control Tower at Van Nuys Airport at 3:09 PM on November 25, 2012, reporting a small aircraft down on the campus of California State University Northridge (CSUN), 2.5 miles northwest of the airport.

Aviation authorities stated the Cessna 206, a six-seat single engine airplane with two persons aboard, was traveling from Novato, California to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, when an in-flight emergency was declared.

Witnesses describe the pilot attempting to land the ailing aircraft on the athletic fields that occupy the northeast section of CSUN's South Campus. The plane quickly traversed the fields, before striking a chain link fence and a tree, which sheared the Cessna's left wing and caused the craft to overturn. Amazingly, there were no injuries on the ground, and no campus structures damaged. Thick smoke seen as the airplane came to a rest soon dissipated, and what was initially believed to be a small fire, may have simply been burning oil.

Several bystanders came to the immediate aid of the male pilot and female passenger, assisting them from the wreckage. The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived quickly to abate the fire hazard and provide medical care to the pilot and passenger, who were described as in fair condition with non-life threatening injuries. The two were taken by LAFD ambulance to an area hospital.

The Fire Department remained on-site for more than four hours to assure campus safety, minimize environmental harm and preserve the scene for a coordinated investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

Dispatched Units: E70 RA70 E103 E287 T87 E87 T73 E273 RA104 HR56 EM15 BC15 UR88 DC3 H8

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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LAFD Treat 3 Injured After Car Crashes into Target Store

CANOGA PARK - A vehicle crashed into a Target store in Canoga Park October 26, 2012, injuring three people, one critically. The crash was just before 5:30 p.m. at 6600 Owensmouth Avenue in the Westfield Topanga shopping center.


An approximate 70 year-old woman driving a dark-colored sedan down a parking ramp continued through a three way stop toward the rear of the department store. The car crashed into the building, narrowly squeezing through closed double doors, with about a foot of clearance on either side. The vehicle barrelled about 50 feet inside the electronic section of the department store before coming to a stop.

Three people, including the driver, were injured in the crash and transported to three different area hospitals. A 56-year-old man suffered a hip injury and a 29-year-old woman suffered critical head trauma. The driver suffered moderate injuries.

Over 30 Los Angeles Firefighters secured the area, rapidly treated and transported the injured, then remained on scene for hours to remove the vehicle from the store, with LAPD assistance.

The Department of Building & Safety further assessed the integrity of the structure and LAPD Topanga Division investigated what exactly caused this vehicle to crash into the store.

Dispatched Units: E72 E305 E105 T105 RA84 E106 E10 RA96 HR56 EM17 BC17 UR88 RA906 RA93 RA73 EM15 EM14 RA104

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Hollywood Boulevard Bus Collision Sends 35 to Hospital

HOLLYWOOD - A transit bus sideswiped a driverless dump truck before colliding with a sedan on Hollywood Boulevard Tuesday morning, sending thirty-five people to the hospital.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 7:57 AM on October 23, 2012 to 7673 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Firefighters arrived quickly to discover three vehicles involved in a dramatic collision.


According to witnesses, a Metro bus traveling westbound on Hollywood Boulevard had attempted to avoid but sideswiped a dump truck sans driver that rolled suddenly down an incline into its path at Stanley Avenue. Following the evasive maneuver, the bus collided with an eastbound sedan, badly trapping the driver of that vehicle when it became partially wedged beneath the front of the bus.

Teams of Los Angeles Firefighters, including personnel assigned to the LAFD Urban Search & Rescue and Heavy Rescue units, disentangled the trapped driver from her auto, while their colleagues performed a systematic triage of the remaining 37 persons involved in the collision.

The woman was removed from the crumpled remains of her silver sedan in less than twenty minutes. Having suffered a fractured left leg and other unspecified injuries, she was transported by LAFD Paramedics to a nearby trauma center in serious condition.

The woman's pre-teen daughter, who had been riding properly restrained in the rear seat of her vehicle, was able to exit the car unscathed prior to the Fire Department's arrival. In fair condition, she was taken to a nearby pediatric hospital by LAFD ambulance.

Also shaken but suffering minimal injury was the bus driver, who along with 32 of her passengers stated a desire for hospital evaluation. The 33 from aboard the bus, as well as the automobile driver and her daughter accounted for the 35 total taken to eight regional hospitals by LAFD ambulance for further assessment and care.


Three bus passengers declined treatment or transportation, and were released at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The collision remains under formal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials.

Dispatched Units: E41 RA41 E27 RA27 E82 E261 T61 HR56 EM5 BC5 UR88 E97 RA97 RA61 RA876 RA58 RA829 RA894 RA826 EM18 EM11 RA827 RA835 RA803 RA860 RA829 RA850

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Three Perish in Fiery Studio City Collision

STUDIO CITY - Police are investigating the cause of a fiery pre-dawn crash that took three lives Sunday morning in Studio City.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was alerted at 3:35 AM on September 9, 2012 to a traffic collision with fire at 11412 Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Firefighters arrived quickly to find a car heavily involved with flames, the inferno threatening at least one nearby business.

According to witnesses, the full-size sedan had left the roadway, striking a tree, before shearing a natural gas line as it came to rest against the wall of a nearby restaurant. Almost instantly, the vehicle was consumed by flames, incinerating two persons within, and another who was partially outside the car. Beyond medical help, the trio were declared dead at the scene.

It took the combined effort of 52 firefighters just 23 minutes to fully extinguish the flames, though LAFD crews spent several hours at the scene minimizing damage to Reno's Pizzeria, before assisting Coroner's staff with the discrete and dignified removal of the deceased.

No other injuries were reported.

A positive identification - to include the age and gender - of those who died, as well as the precise cause, time and manner of their deaths, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

The collision remains under active investigation by Los Angeles Police officials. No damage estimate for the structure was immediately available.

Dispatched Units: E86 T60 E260 RA86 E278 RA78 T78 E60 E76 RA97 HR56 EM14 BC14 UR88 E97 E289 T89 DC3 SQ21

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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One Dead when Small Plane Crashes in West Los Angeles

WEST LOS ANGELES - The fiery crash of a small airplane in West Los Angeles Friday evening, claimed the life of one person aboard. No homes or vehicles were damaged, and no one else was injured in the impact or intense flames that ensued.

In response to a spate of 9-1-1 calls at 6:14PM on August 10, 2012, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to 2054 South Glendon Avenue in West Los Angeles, where they discovered a small heavily damaged single-engine airplane well involved with fire.

The aircraft appears to have struck pavement and yardspace on the northwest corner of Glendon and Mississippi Avenues, avoiding buildings, vehicles or any person in the neighborhood of one- and two-story homes. Flames from the burning fuselage, which ignited an adjacent palm tree, were extinguished in less than five minutes.
Despite the quick efforts of LAFD responders, the sole occupant of the plane was beyond medical help, and declared dead at the scene.

A positive identification of the decedent, as well as the cause, time and manner of their death, will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner.

The Los Angeles Fire Department remained at the scene for more than nine hours to assure safety, minimize environmental harm, preserve evidence, commence neighborhood recovery and assist investigators.

Pursuant of protocol, a formal investigation of the collision is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Dispatched Units: E59 RA59 E292 T92 RA92 E295 T95 T61 E261 HR56 EM9 BC9 E71 T37 E237 RA859 E19 DC3 SQ21 BC18 E37 AR2 E62 EL83 RA906 AR7 RT83 T5 E205 E292 T92

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Bus Crash in Palms area of Los Angeles Sends 11 to Hospital

PALMS - A traffic collision involving a Los Angeles Metro transit bus sent eleven persons to the hospital on Wednesday evening, but none of the injuries was believed to be life threatening.


The crash was reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 5:49 PM on August 8, 2012, bringing a response of 41 LAFD personnel to the 9700 block of Venice Boulevard. Firefighters discovered a black sport utility vehicle, which witnesses describe as striking a white sedan before colliding with the mid-section of an eastbound 60' articulated bus.

A team of LAFD Paramedics focused their efforts on the SUV driver, who was in serious condition, while their colleagues commenced a swift and efficient triage, treatment and transportation of the remaining patients, all of whom had lesser injuries.

Ultimately eleven adults, ranging from 21-to-80 years of age, were taken to area hospitals by LAFD ambulance.

The collision is being investigated by Los Angeles Police Department with assistance of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which provides contract policing services to the countywide transit agency.

Dispatched Units: RA34 E43 E58 RA858 RA92 RA62 EM9 EM13 BC9 E292 T92 E62 RA859 RA861 RA829 EM11 RA841

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Harbor Freeway Collision Sends Seven to Hospital

HARBOR GATEWAY - A single vehicle collision brought pre-dawn traffic to a standstill on the northbound Harbor (SR-110) Freeway in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles early Sunday morning, as Fire Department crews treated seven patients, five of them with critical injuries.

Summoned by California Highway Patrol dispatchers at 3:32 AM on Sunday, May 6, 2012, the Los Angeles Fire Department swiftly dispatched 39 personnel to safely manage the scene just north of El Segundo Boulevard, where a car collided forcefully with a concrete freeway median before overturning.

Five of the injured were readily removed by firefighters from the mangled sedan, though two remained badly trapped, requiring rescuers to skilfully disentangle them from the wreckage with hydraulic prying tools.

The serious to critically injured, described as 3 men and 4 women in their twenties, were taken to regional hospitals in a fleet of LAFD ambulances. The incident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Dispatched Units: E64 E79 RA79 E264 T64 BC13 RA264 RA64 EM13 RA57 E57 RA65 RA33 RA865 RA866

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Early Morning Accident Critically Injures Six in South Los Angeles

South Los Angeles - An early morning traffic collision critically injured six patients and brought nearly 50 Firefighters to the scene.

At 2:47 am on Friday, February 3, 2012, Firefighters responded to the intersection of West Florence Avenue and South Halldale Avenue for a reported "traffic collision." First arriving resources noted several victims lying in the middle of the street but could identify only a single vehicle. Immediately, additional resources were requested to the scene of this "multi-casualty-incident" (MCI).

 
http://www.ktla.com/videogallery/67834796/News/VIDEO:-6-Women-Critical-After-SUV-Slams-Into-Hyde-Park-Trees---Wendy-Burch-reports

The involved vehicle, carrying a total of six passengers, appeared to have struck a tree. A report from one Rescue Ambulance confirmed that five of the patients had been ejected from the sport-utility-vehicle (SUV) and one additional patient did require extrication. 46 Firefighters, including 9 Rescue Ambulances, worked quickly and diligently to provide the best and most appropriate patient-care at the scene of this horrible accident.

All six patients were young-adult females and unfortunately, each sustained what appeared to be life-threatening injuries. They were each rapidly transported to local hospitals in "critical condition." It was not clear at the time of this report if any of the passengers were wearing seat belts and the exact cause of the accident is under active investigation by the LAPD.

Dispatched Units:
E57 RA257 RA57 E266 E66 T66 E33 HR56 EM11 BC13 E46
RA857 RA66 EM2 RA33 RA46 EM9 RA64 RA264 RA866 E57


Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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North Hollywood Collision Involving Metro Bus Sends Three to Hospital

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A three car collision involving a Metro transit bus sent three persons to the hospital, two with critical injury.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 9:12 AM on Friday, November 25, 2011 to the 12600 block of Sherman Way in North Hollywood for a collision between a sedan and a bus operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, after which the full-size black sedan - already wedged beneath the bus, was struck forcefully by a red compact hatchback.

LAFD Battalion Chief Peter Benesch commanded sixty-four Los Angeles Firefighters, including those assigned to eight LAFD ambulances, in a swift and skilfull effort to simultaneously rescue the two critically injured car drivers, one of whom was badly trapped in the black sedan.

Concurrently, LAFD Paramedics evaluated every transit bus occupant, including the uninjured driver. Four bus passengers declared subjective injury or illness, but only one, with a complaint of chest discomfort, was taken to the hospital.

The critically injured man driving the red hatchback was quickly transported to the Trauma Center at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was soon joined by the ill bus passenger, who was in good condition.

Los Angeles Fire Department crews swarmed over the black sedan for nearly a half-hour, briskly deconstructing the vehicle with power tools to free the male driver, whose legs were badly trapped in the wreckage. After being freed, he was rushed by ambulance to the same Trauma Center in critical condition.

Sherman Way was temporarily closed to traffic in both directions between Bellaire Avenue and Whitsett Avenue as the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division completed their on-site investigation.

Dispatched Units: T89 E289 RA81 E102 E81 T39 E239 RA7 HR56 EM14 BC14 UR88 E77 RA89 RA102 RA881 EM17 RA7 EM15 RA60 E98 E39 RA100 DC3

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Severe Collision on Freeway Causes Fire, Claims a Life

HIGHLAND PARK - Despite the Friday evening, rush-hour traffic, LAFD resources swiftly responded to what was first termed a "traffic collision" on the freeway. After having received multiple calls, dispatchers quickly upgraded the incident to a "physical rescue." However, the first arriving units encountered something much worse.

After one car apparently stalled on the southbound side of the Pasadena Freeway near York Boulevard, a sport utility vehicle, having not enough time to react to the disabled vehicle, violently rammed into its rear-end, causing the stalled auto to burst into flames. There were two passengers onboard the fully engulfed vehicle and despite the extreme efforts by nearly 40 LAFD Firefighters and Paramedics on-scene, one of the passengers succumbed to injuries and sadly, was pronounced deceased.

Resources from the South Pasadena Fire Department joined with the LAFD on the freeway incident and helped treat and transport four other patients, including the driver of the burnt-out vehicle. All were taken via rescue-ambulance in fair condition to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. At least one patient sustained minor burns, in a clear attempt to assist the poor soul that perished in the vehicle fire.

This fatality collision is currently under active investigation.

DISPATCH UNITS:
E55 E212 T12 RA12 RA55 E250 T50 E12 E47 HR56 EM11 BC2 E44 AR1 RA844 RA209


Submitted by Matt Spence
Spokesman, Los Angeles Fire Department

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Accident Involving Transport Van Sends Senior Passengers to Hospital

At approximately 9:00 am this morning, on the 6600 block of North Wilbur Avenue in Reseda, a passenger van from the Genesis Adult Day Health Care Facility was involved in a traffic collision with a single passenger auto. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries, but several of the passengers, all of which were seniors (ages ranging 65 - 80 years old) had various complaints of minor aches and pains.

When approximately 50 LAFD Firefighters, under the command of Assistant Chief Jeffery Mottram, had finished processing the scene, this mid-morning collision had produced a total of 15 patients. Eight of those patients were treated and transported to local hospitals for further evaluation. Seven others were treated and released at the scene. The driver of the other involved auto was one of those transported in fair condition with minor injuries.

Battalion Chief Ray Gomez was in charge of the medical component of this incident, where at one point, he managed 10 rescue ambulances that had been ordered, anticipating both a large number of patients and extensive injuries. Fortunately, not all resources were needed.

The damage to the involved vehicles was still being assessed and the cause of the accident is under investigation.

Dispatched Units: E273 T73 E93 RA93 RA909 E293 T93 E100 RA100 E104 RA104 RA84 RA72 RA105 RA906 RA818 RA898 EM17 EM15 EM14 BC10 DC3

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Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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100 Foot Geyser in Residential Neighborhood Displaces Family

At 6:11 pm this evening, your Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported "hydrant" at the residential intersection of North Edloft Avenue and East Twining Street in the neighborhood of El Sereno. First arriving units were guided to the scene by water being shot approximately 100 feet into the air from a high pressure fire hydrant. The hydrant had been sheared-off by a vehicle, whose driver had apparently lost control. The driver was treated and transported to a local hospital for observation.

Mass amounts of water then began to shower surrounding homes and fill the streets. Access to the hydrant shut-off valve was made difficult to Firefighters not only because they had to endure heavy water, but also due to the large, water-main shut-off valve being located deeper underground than what standard tools on our fire apparatus are capable of accessing. This particular hydrant shut-off valve required specialized tools available only to our partners at the Department of Water & Power (DWP).



As water continued to flow for nearly two hours, approximately 50 Firefighters quickly poured on-scene to assist, along with our specialized Urban Search & Rescue unit and our Heavy Rescue squad. The water flow initially prompted the Incident Commander (IC), Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson, to protect the residents of three homes in the area by sheltering them in place. When it became apparent this would be an extended incident, the IC, under the guidance of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott, made the decision to evacuate these structures to ensure their safety.

When the hydrant was ultimately shut-down, representatives from the Department of Building & Safety quickly moved in to assess and determined the homes had sustained minimal, structural damage. However, a retaining wall at the rear of one of the structures was severely compromised. As a result, one family was unfortunately displaced for at least that evening. The family was assisted by our friends at the local Red Cross.

We are pleased to report there were no additional injuries to any of the families impacted nor to any of our on-scene personnel.

The cause is under investigation and the dollar loss is still being tabulated.


Submitted by Matt Spence, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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Fuel Spill From Tanker Collision Closes Golden State Freeway in Sun Valley

On Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 10:41 PM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 2 LAFD Foam Tenders, 1 LAFD Water Tender, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 74 Los Angeles Firefighters under the direction of Battalion Chief John Drake, responded to a Traffic Collision with Large Fuel Spill on the northbound Golden State (I-5) Freeway near Glenoaks Boulevard in Sun Valley.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to find a semi-truck tanker with twin tank trailer, both laden with gasoline, parked on the right shoulder of the freeway. The trailer was observed leaking large amounts of the volatile motor fuel onto the roadway and across northbound lanes of travel.

According to witnesses, the tandem tanker truck was involved in a collision with another vehicle, causing damage to valves beneath the truck's fully-laden 4,800 gallon capacity trailer.

First arriving LAFD personnel staged their apparatus upwind and uphill from the parked gasoline transporter. With hundreds of gallons of flammable liquid already spilled, firefighters immediately curtailed traffic along the north- and south-bound lanes of the busy interstate highway to prevent ignition and diminish environmental harm.

As law enforcement agencies managed traffic along the miles-long closure that included many on- and off-ramps, transportation officials assisted firefighters who had labored intensely and successfully for nearly an hour, to dike the tide of gasoline before it could enter the storm drain system.

Patrons of a freeway adjacent motel behind a tall sound wall were sheltered in place, as teams of Los Angeles Firefighters stemmed the leaking trailer while applying an absorbent and firefighting foam to ease the cleanup and limit the potential for ignition.

No injuries were reported. There were no formal evacuations.

Following the Los Angeles Fire Department's successful mitigation of the primary hazard, control of the scene was returned to California Highway Patrol, State Department of Transportation and County Health Hazardous Materials officials.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

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