Pedestrian Struck and Killed by Bus

Los Angeles:  A pedestrian crossing the street in a marked crosswalk was run over by an MTA bus late Monday afternoon.

On Monday, June 1, 2009, at around 4:20 p.m. a pedestrian crossing the street at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Pacific Avenue was hit by a Metropolitan Transit Authority bus that was travelling westbound Rose Avenue to northbound Pacific Avenue.  The driver of the bus, a 51-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was unaware of the collision and continued driving for nearly two city blocks before being alerted by a witness that the victim was still under the bus.  The bus finally came to a stop at Navy Boulevard and Main Street.

There does not appear to be any evidence of a crime and there are no charges pending at this time.  The driver of the bus was transported to a local hospital for treatment of an undisclosed medical condition.

The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Donald Barrett a resident from the Venice area.

West Traffic Division Officer John Stafford conducted the on-scene investigation and West Traffic Division, Detective Section, Officer Lee Willmon will be conducting the follow-up investigation.  The investigators may be contacted by calling 213-473-0234.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD"  Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Comments

[Cathy]

The pedestrian was killed, in an intersection, but there is no evidence of a crime?

It really is open season on pedestrians!

[B&WOp]

Come on Cathy. Just because a pedestrian was killed in an intersection, you mean to say that it's automatically the fault of the vehicle driver AND it's criminal????

There are all kinds of possibilities here, including the possibility that the pedestrian violated a traffic law, causing his/her demise.

Let the investigation take it's course and the answers will come.

[Susan]

Eerily and disturbingly, just two weeks ago on May 20, 2009, a 35 year old female pedestrian was also hit, run over, and killed by an MTA bus making a right turn as the pedestrian (a mother of two young children) was crossing the street within a marked crosswalk on her green light in downtown Los Angeles by City Hall.

It would serve the victim's family and community at large if the LAPD posted information for tipsters to contact the LAPD regarding that atrocious event as well. Thank you.

[Laura]

MTA bus drivers must be disallowed right turns on red lights. I see MTA buses making wildly fast right turns on red all the time - even this morning - at the exact same intersection where Donald was killed. They do this to cheat the pedestrian signal and turn before pedestrians begin walking. We've all probably seen the big blue bus and MTA buses drive like maniacs. Stop the madness!

[Katie]

There is a post on the LA Times blog by a person who witnessed this tragedy. Donald was crossing WITH THE GREEN when the bus hit him IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. The last time I checked involuntary manslaughter with a vehicle was considered a punishable offense.

Donald was my friend and a wonderful, creative and kind person who did not have to die so tragically at such an early age. He will be missed by so many people.

[neal]

I live near that intersection. the problem is that you cannot see to pacific going northbound because there is a house on the corner and for some unknown reason, the city has a ramp to enter the cross walk, and if you enter the cross walk from there, you are not visible from a high profile vehicle.

No bus should be making right turns - in fact, no one should, until the city bulldozes the high wall there.

It is really stupid for a life to be lost from just stupidity. It is actually worse on a green because the driver does not need to even think or stop and maybe reflexively look.

[Nancy]

During my commute this morning, I saw a car rush through to turn left as a light turned green, nearly hitting a pedestrian already crossing in the crosswalk when the light clearly said, WALK. Many people in cars just don't care, and pedestrian deaths are the consequence.