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News, West Los Angeles, Traffic, Accident, Fatality
Motorcyclist Killed On Bundy Drive During Rush Hour In West Los Angeles
Update #1
Posted Nov. 7, 2012, 10:37 am
Roger Morante / Sports Editor
A motorcyclist was killed in a traffic accident just before 5 p.m. Wednesday involving a SUV on S. Bundy Drive between Olympic and Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles.
The damaged motorcycle ended up on the sidewalk at the scene of the accident, which was at the intersection of Bundy and Missouri. A black SUV was parked in front of the body.
One person was confirmed dead "due to a traffic accident," according to West Los Angeles police at the scene.
The collision snarled traffic in the area with police rerouting motorists to alternate routes.
According to LAPD Public Information Officer Rosario Herrera, the victim of the accident was male.
"A man was riding a motorcycle while traveling northbound on Bundy Dr. when he collided with another vehicle," said Herrera. "He collided with the vehicle while the vehicle was negotiating a left turn."
According to Herrera, the Los Angeles Fire Dept. pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Name of the victim has not yet been released as LAPD is still in the process of informing the victim's next of kin.
Check back at smmirror.com for updates as more details become available.
Comments
Nov. 8, 2012, 4:25:22 am
Drew said...
Has the lost rider been ID'd yet?
Nov. 8, 2012, 4:37:26 am
jay said...
terrible. i rode past this. my thoughts are with the family. any updates?
Nov. 8, 2012, 5:05:20 am
crissy said...
I was there driving home from venice beach...it was a man on a motorcycle. He was doing what most motorcyclist do, he split the traffic and was speeding much faster then the rest of he cars. I barey saw him pass my car. what looked like what happend was when another car was turning he clipped the back of it and lost control. He was going much to fast to see anything coming. I hope the man RIP and others who drive motorcycles think twice before splitting traffic.
Nov. 8, 2012, 6:03:16 am
Celia said...
Yes, driver has been ID'd. Not publicly.
Nov. 8, 2012, 7:58:03 am
jay said...
crissy - i agree with you 100%. i ride a motorbike and unfortunately am guilty of doing what you mentioned this motorcyclist was doing. this incident has brought the reality home.
Nov. 8, 2012, 8:42:37 am
Gary Lewis said...
There should be a law against cyclists splitting the traffic. This is very dangerous
Nov. 8, 2012, 10:18:05 am
RF said...
I live 2 blocks from where the accident took place, and I must confess that unfortunately I am not at all surprised. I have witnessed cars speeding down South Bundy drive as fast as 60 mph. There are only about 2 or 3 set of lights between Santa Monica blvd and Olympic blvd, which are not enough to control the driver's speed. Something must be done to control the traffic in that area, and my hope is that the authorities take action fast before we have another tragedy such as this. Bundy is a major road but also crosses through residential areas, specially between Wilshire and Olimpic Blvd. When I reduce my speed driving on Bundy to make a right turn into the garage of the building I reside, I often see drivers tail-tagging or using their horn behind my vehicle, even when I signal that I have intention to make a right turn into the garage. This happens at least twice/week, not occasionally. I don't know that specific details about this accident, but from my own experience living at Bundy Drive for the past 3 years, I can tell you that drivers treat Bundy as if it was a highway. Perhaps what we need is to have speed bumps placed in that section of S Bundy Drive.
Nov. 8, 2012, 3:55:55 pm
Drew said...
Splitting lanes has been proven to reduce accidents, but my gut has told me since I heard about this yesterday that it involved a vehicle turning left and high motorcycle speed. No one falling off a bike at 25 miles per hour (reasonable for splitting lanes) would die. He must have been going much faster.
Nov. 8, 2012, 4:50:06 pm
Anonymous said...
That was my brother......
Nov. 9, 2012, 12:38:14 am
Anonymous said...
This is terrible. I was in the area after this tragedy occured. It wasnt until I walked into the gym on the corner that I heard what had happened. My thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends. To the person on this chain of comments who said this was your brother....I am so very sorry for your loss. I have been thinking so much about this. Praying for you and your family.
Nov. 9, 2012, 1:18:07 am
Alma said...
I was a few feet away when it happened. If you or anyone know the way to make a petition to the city on making this St. Safer. Can you please post it. And for the family of this young man I am so sorry and I would like to be at his funeral. Tell us when and where.
Nov. 9, 2012, 6:52:18 am
Daniel said...
the driver's been ID'd. His motorcycle was endorsed by West Coast Gp Cycles, just down the street. They know who he is
Nov. 9, 2012, 7:13:50 pm
Sad said...
I was at the scene and saw this man just a few seconds before and then just a few seconds after death. It rattled me, and I keep thinking about him and his family. I did not see the impact. I saw him racing by on his way to the intersection. He was going very fast, in standstill traffic. There is plenty to be learned from this tragedy. 1) Please don't motorcycle recklessly! 2) Avoid left turns whenever possible, especially in heavy traffic. You can usually whip a few rights instead. If you must take a left, LOOK where you're going! 3) Los Angeles is in desperate need of left-turn green arrows, and longer pauses between red lights and cross-street greens.
Nov. 10, 2012, 4:59:56 am
Allen said...
I came across this tragic scene Wednesday evening just after authorities closed a section of Bundy. I was returning home from work on an express bus from downtown. The bus had to detour around the closure in the gridlocked traffic. I park my bicycle at LA Fitness so I got off the bus and walked north on Bundy and saw the incident and I too was rattled. Bundy is a very dangerous street. In the evening the traffic is often gridlocked with impatient drivers. If the account of the motorcyclist speeding is accurate, I can see how a tragedy like this could happen. If a car makes a left turn in front of you, there is no out. Every morning as I wait for my downtown bus on Bundy/La Grange I witness cars flying by at breakneck speeds. I frequently witness cars going south on Bundy speeding through the just-turned red light at La Grange only to slam on their brakes because the light is red at Olympic. Several months ago I witnessed two cars collide in that intersection. What’s the hurry? If driving in West LA isn’t dangerous enough, drivers are distracted. It’s common for me to see drivers that are stopped at the signal at La Grange texting, focusing on their smart phones, eating, or putting on make up. The side streets in the area are also dangerous with errant motorists speeding through the neighborhood with little regard for speed limits or stop signs. Two years ago I was riding my bicycle home and a car hit me in an intersection. I was severely injured, missed two months of work and still go to physical therapy. I’m lucky to be alive. Brandon Garrett was only 35 years old. Flowers and candles grace the scene on Bundy at Missouri where he died. My heart goes out to his family and friends. There are moments like this in life when your heart stops and you realize how short life is and how it can be taken away in an instant. Be careful out there people. Please slow down and drive carefully.
Nov. 10, 2012, 6:29:08 am
Marisol said...
I was there at the moment this unfortunate accident occured one car behind the XD. I am traumitized heartbroken and sad. In my 33 years of life I have never witnessed anything like this. My heart began to break because I immediately knew he was somebodies son; then began to think was he a brother, husband, father even an uncle. I have read these post and for the brother I am praying for him and also that the Lord bring peace and strength to all of you. God bless you. As much as we all know how dangerous it is to drive recklessly whether it be a motorcycle or car either way someones life here is now over.
Nov. 12, 2012, 6:06:25 am
unnamed rider said...
You we be missed brother....im glad I got to meet you. Ride on brother...till we get to ride again...rest in peace B.G.
Nov. 13, 2012, 4:09:10 am
Joanne said...
My dearest Brandon, I am in utter shock and I pray that you didn't suffer. I am so proud of the man you became and I know you had so much left to do. You were kind, generous and loving. I will miss you terribly. May you rest in peace always.
Nov. 13, 2012, 4:27:45 pm
Fuzzy Face said...
I met Brandon 3 years ago at a welding classe at Pierce College. We became riding buddies, had many laughs together clowning eachother, made him like beer through my homebrew, proud of him when he got hired at Universal, and put him into the wall go-karting a few times (he licked me a few times too-we were even). Brandon bought the whole seat, but only used the edge. He once told me he wasn't going to live very long (due to family genes). He lived on the edge so that he could feel he was living. Brandon, may to rest upon the endless sweepers... may you rest peacefully upon turn 9 at Willow Springs... and may you give the angels in heaven a run for there money! See you, buddy. Thanks for the Fuzzy Face nick name.
Nov. 14, 2012, 7:55:45 am
Fuzzy Face said...
Funeral already took place. There will be a memorial service in the next week.
Nov. 15, 2012, 7:05:00 pm
Edna said...
@fuzzy face do you know when the memorial will be and where ?. ...he was a friend of mine and I am completely crushed about this.
Nov. 16, 2012, 2:42:17 am
Fuzzy Face said...
Edna, i will try to find out today more info on the memorial service. I will post it here.
Nov. 20, 2012, 10:37:55 am
Edna said...
@fuzzy face Do you know when the memorial is. Or did it happen already ?:-(
Feb. 10, 2015, 8:10:12 pm
Etter said...
wow, im tramatized. i just found out by finding an article online that brandon passed. i met him in welding class in 2011 and helped make a wheelchair prodject for the aero space program. i spent many late nights after class to help him make this prodject and we became good friends. after classes were over we lost touch and we still talked every now and again untill he stopped texting me. now i know. love you buddy :(...