Valley Traffic Accident

Los Angeles: Woman found dead in vehicle after car collides into building in Tarzana.

On December 15, 2007, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to investigate a radio call of a traffic collision at 19255 Ventura Boulevard.  The accident involved a car that had crashed into a commercial building. 

The male driver of the car was transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

On December 16, 2007, it was learned that an elderly female passenger may have also been in the vehicle at the time of the crash.  A follow up investigation to the tow yard where the damaged car was transported for safe keeping revealed a deceased second victim concealed underneath a deployed air bag in the passenger compartment.   

The LAPD and Los Angeles City Fire will conduct an investigation into the accident and resulting response.

Anyone with information about this accident is asked to call Valley Traffic Division Detectives at 818-374-1930. During off-hours or on weekends call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Comments

[2 Tones]

Isn't that something?

At least we got through the first couple of hours of this ordeal without Bratton and the mayor shootingt off their mouths before all the facts were in. I can smell a press conference in the making.

Maybe their weren't enough officers on scene to complete a through investigation. Overtime issues my friend.

But wait...Why don't we send a cadre of pencil pushing squints from PSB to gather the facts.

Next, let's come up with 10 hours of mandatory training on how to properly search vehicles for other dead or injured occupants.

I am sure in the next few days some ambulance chasing barrister will be representing the family in a lawsuit against the City.

[Dis and Dat]

Wow...what an embarrassment for LAPD!!! Maybe they should add an extra check-box on their Vehicle Impound Report...it should say "Dead Body" and the officer can check "yes" or "no". Maybe this will assist them with paying closer attention, especially with serious traffic accidents such as this one. What if there was a baby who was trapped in the car and they didn't find it?? I know part of the responsibility falls with the son, who was the driver, when he supposedly told the officers that he was alone in the car. But then again, when does an officer take the word of someone who had just been in a traumatic situation and had been injured? I'm afraid that the ultimate penalty will fall on the officer who completed the Vehicle Impound Report since he/she didn't do a thorough job in checking the interior of the car. I hope it wasn't a P-I, and if it was, where was his/her training officer? And where was the supervisor at scene? Everyone should be held accountable at this scene and learn from this incident. This is reminiscent of the child who drowned in a backyard swimming pool and although officers conducted a supposed thorough search, did not found him until days later (he was at the bottom of the pool). So sad for the family members.

[ron]

I wonder why no one looked under the air bag??? Was she dead already or did she die later?? This does not look good.

[Ed O'Shea]

There is nothing that can be said about this other than it's sheer incompitence! Deputy Chief Moore, was probably hounding the traffic guys to get out and get him ,ore tickets! I feel horrible for the woman in this case, and I only pray that she was killed on impact and not by freezing over night. It would bother me more to know that this woman spent her last hours alive on this earth scared and alone, when she might have been saved. That being said, I will be awaiting the findings of the coroner.
My prayers go out to the family.

[Dis and Dat]

Hey "Loves LA LEOs".....only a very twisted individual would find this tragic accident and preventable oversight "hysterical". I wonder if you would still be laughing if that was your mother crammed underneath the airbag and left to die.

[ron]

Loves L.A Leos
Last week you where complaing about peoples humor. Now you make what some could say was a joke in poor taste about this poor woman being left in the car. By the way "DID YOU TAKE YOUR MEDS"??

[Loves LA LEOs]

Upon reading my 12-18 posts to this blog, I realized they were terribly inappropriate. Early 12-19, I called and asked that the posts be pulled. I was particularly concerned for the family and friends of the deceased and did not want them to read my insensitive comments. My request was ignored; the posts remain, and anything I can say will not mitigate the pain my words have the potential to cause the family if they log onto the blog. For that I am truly sorry.

[midwest gal]

Why is the blame on LAPD and not fire and rescue??? Or should the oversight go to both?

[ron]

It should be both. How hard is it to lift the airbag up and look under it??? huh??? Everyone there is to blame.