REWARD OFFERED IN FATAL PEDESTRIAN HIT AND RUN; CITY OUTREACHES
TO PEDESTRIANS AND STEPS UP ENFORCEMENT
DUARTE, CA, December 7, 2010 - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck an 86-year-old Duarte man in front of his home.
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich made the initial announcement on Friday, December 3rd.
Longtime resident and father of 12, Gabriel Barragan Abundio died at the scene of the crash, which took place about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 18000 block of Buena Vista Street, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said.
A retired horse groom, Abundio was walking home from a bus stop after Christmas shopping when he was fatally struck by a vehicle described only as black, which then fled the scene traveling southbound in the number two lane, investigators and family members said.
Due to three collisions and fatalities involving vehicles and pedestrians during the last two month period, the Duarte Public Safety Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department have been actively educating local pedestrians and drivers regarding the perils of jaywalking. This concerted effort is designed to educate the public regarding the dangers of crossing a roadway and advising them that strict enforcement of the California Vehicle Code will commence in an effort to reduce collisions. Most recently Public Safety has presented at the Duarte Senior Center, posted educational stories on both the Chamber and City websites, sent out email alerts stressing pedestrian safety and hand delivered letters to every senior citizen living complex in the City.
Should you have any questions or desire a presentation by the Public Safety Department regarding traffic related issues or have information regarding the hit and run fatality, please contact Public Safety Director Brian Villalobos at 626-357-7938 X302 or the Temple Sheriff Station 626-285-7171.
Some of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) Sections that will be enforced are as follows:
Pedestrian Crossing Between Controlled Intersections (Jaywalking)- 21955 CVC
Between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk.
Example: If a person was to cross the street on Buena Vista Avenue between Huntington Drive and Royal Oaks Drive they would be in violation of this section. Huntington Drive and Buena Vista Avenue are controlled by a traffic light and Royal Oaks Drive and Buena Vista Avenue are controlled by a stop sign.
The fine for violating this section is $190.00
Pedestrians Outside Crosswalks- 21954(a) CVC
Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.
Example: Anywhere along Huntington Drive not at a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk such as Huntington Drive at Cotter Avenue (where the Bank of America and Ranchero’s is located).
(b) The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of a vehicle from the duty to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway.
The fine for violating this section is $190.00
Right of Way at Crosswalks- 21950(a) CVC
The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.
(d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at any intersection.
The fine for violating this section is $190.00
Vehicles Stopped for Pedestrians- 21951 CVC
Whenever any vehicle has stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
The fine for violating this section is $476.00
