(Los Angeles, CA) An LAPD cruiser responding to an emergency call struck and killed a woman, believed to be 32, on Woodman Avenue.
On October 31, at about 11:30 p.m., the collision occurred in the 6100 block of Woodman Avenue, near Bessemer Street. The cruiser belonged to the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division, according to the department. A witness reported hearing a thud, seeing the woman down in the street.
Following the impact, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The initial police account placed her in a crosswalk, although subsequent reporting has differed on that detail. Her name was not included in the supplied report.
After investigating the incident, authorities learned the cruiser was responding to an emergency call. Subsequent reporting attributed to the LAPD said the officer was heading to an emergency backup request with lights and sirens activated. Whether the rainy conditions contributed to the collision remained unclear.
Analysis of the Woodman Avenue Accident
An emergency response changes some traffic obligations, but it does not remove the officer’s responsibility to account for people in the roadway. The distinction is especially important here because the initial account describes a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
California Vehicle Code 21055 permits an authorized emergency vehicle to depart from specified traffic rules when its conditions are met. Those include responding to an emergency call, displaying a red warning lamp visible from the front, and sounding a siren as reasonably necessary. The exemption covers rules governing pedestrian right of way as well as certain speed and traffic-control requirements.
That authority has a limit. California Vehicle Code 21056 preserves the duty to drive with due regard for everyone using the roadway. Lights and a siren warn others of an approaching cruiser; they do not establish that its speed and approach were appropriate for the circumstances.
For this collision, the pedestrian’s location and the officer’s opportunity to see her require a clear reconstruction. Rain belongs in that assessment only to the extent that evidence shows it affected visibility or vehicle control. The supplied account does not establish the cruiser’s speed or the distance available to respond before impact.
Help for the Family
You can ask the LAPD which team is investigating the Woodman Avenue accident and how your family will receive updates. Request clarification about the woman’s crossing location, given the differing public accounts. You can also ask how to submit a request to preserve any available dash-camera footage and dispatch recordings, which could help establish the cruiser’s approach and the emergency response timeline.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 866-883-4318 to speak with a lawyer.
