Accident Report

01/03/1995
Large Settlement from City of Los Angeles
On January 3, 1995, plaintiff Stormy Livendale was traveling in her 1994 Honda Civic westbound on La Tuna Canyon Road in Los Angeles, California. It was raining and Stormy's Honda Civic hydroplaned on the slick roadway, spun 180° and crossed over into the opposing traffic lane. Her car was then hit in the rear by a Hyundai Elantra proceeding eastbound. The closing speeds between the vehicles approximated 50 mph. The Delta-V to the Honda Civic was 26 to 27 miles per hour. Stormy Livendale was wearing her provided seatbelt; however, during the collision the hinge bracket on the right side of her driver's seat failed. Stormy suffered a severe head injury during the collision and remained in a coma for several weeks.

Two mediations were held before trial, neither resulting in settlement. Just before trial, defendant served a C.C.P. § 998 Offer to Settle at $300,000. Earlier in the litigation, plaintiff had made a Statutory Offer to Compromise under C.C.P. § 998 for $2,800,000.

Earlier in the case there had also been a dangerous condition of public property claim against the City of Los Angeles related to the roadway, La Tuna Canyon Road. In February of 1996 that portion of the case settled for $1.1 million and pay-off of a $465,000 medical lien.

FULL TEXT WORTH READING AT :http://rpjlawcorp.com/Verdicts/livendale.html

LA TUNA CANYON, Calif. -- A motorcyclist was killed early Monday when he crashed while being chased by California Highway Patrol officers, authorities said.

The 19-year-old Tujunga man died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on La Tuna Canyon Road, west of Ledge Avenue, said CHP Sgt. K.J. Olson. Authorities withheld his name, pending family notification.

A CHP officer saw the 2003 Honda CBR600 motorcycle on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway and tried to pull it over, but the rider kept going, Olson said.

"At times, the motorcycle was well in excess of 100 mph, and the CHP unit was unable to overtake and stop the motorcycle," Olson said.

"A short time later, the CHP unit spotted the motorcycle westbound on La Tuna Canyon road, again at a high rate of speed," Olson said.

"The CHP unit initiated an enforcement stop. The motorcyclist rapidly accelerated and left the CHP unit behind," Olson said. "The CHP unit quickly lost sight of the motorcycle.

"After rounding a curve west of Ledge Avenue, the CHP unit saw the motorcycle had been involved in a solo traffic collision, resulting in fatal injuries to the rider," Olson said.

On Wednesday, January 31, Battalion 14 responded with a Physical Rescue assignment to the 8200 Block of La Tuna Canyon Rd. on a reported auto over cliff with patients trapped.

The first Company to arrive on scene, Engine 77, located a small compact sedan approximately 150 feet down a steep brush covered slope at the bottom of La Tuna Canyon. The lone occupant of the vehicle, a 28 year old woman, was conscious and alert inside the car.

While E 77 initiated first care and worked to insure scene safety at the bottom of the canyon, additional units arriving on scene including E 24, E 74, RA 77, LF 89, E 89 and EMS 12 coordinated setting up a low angled rope rescue/litter basket operation at the top of the canyon.

With the arrival of Heavy Rescue 56 Battalion 14 released both Fire 6 and Fire 4 that had been standing by in the event an Airborne Hoist Operation would be needed. Utilizing the rotating platform boom and capstan of HR 56 the victim was successfully brought to the top of the canyon where she was transported to a local hospital by RA 77 in fair condition.

ORIGINAL TEXT AT http://battalion14.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html

October 1, 2004
La Tuna Canyon Double Fatality
Follow up La Tuna Canyon Fatality
source LAPD News Release Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Los Angeles: On October 1, 2004, at about 2:10 p.m., a double fatal vehicle traffic collision occurred between a red Chevy Camaro and white Toyota Tacoma pick-up in Foothill Area.

The Camaro had just left Village Christian School with three 17 year-old male students when the driver became involved in the collision.

The passengers in the right front and rear seats of the Camaro died at scene due to massive blunt force trauma. They have been identified as Christopher Oliver and Nicholas Roth. The driver of the Camaro was transported to Holly Cross Hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics and was listed in serious condition with a skull fracture.

The driver of the Tacoma, 22 year-old Con Ung, a resident of Rosemead, was transported to Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center. He was treated for facial fractures and lacerations, including neck, back and chest pain.

After an extensive investigation it has been determined that a street race did not occur. Evidence substantiates that the driver of the 1996 Chevy Camaro was driving in excess of the posted speed limit. On Tuesday, November 23, 2004 at 3:00 p.m., the driver of the Camaro was arrested for 602 WIC/192 (C) (1) PC- Felony Manslaughter. Additional charges may be filed by the District Attorney’s Office.

For further information contact Officer T. Wolfe, Valley Traffic Division, at 818-756-8391.

CLASSMATES MOURN PAIR KILLED IN CRASH - Followup on day of mourning at Village Christian School

December 12, 2006
A two vehicle collision in the La Tuna Canyon area of Los Angeles, California took the life of one woman and injured a teen driver.

The 31 year-old female driver and sole occupant of the sedan was badly trapped in the wrecakge and had sustained massive crushing traumatic injuries incompatible with life. She was declared deceased at the scene.

The 17 year-old male driver and sole occupant of the sport utility vehicle sustained unspecified non-life threatening injuries. In fair condition, he was transported by LAFD Paramedics to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.

A cursory evaluation indicated that the woman and teen were both wearing seat belts and that their supplemental air bag restraint systems had deployed during the collision.

No other injuries were reported.

Firefighters remained at the scene for more than one hour to assist Los Angeles Police Officers, and later returned to assist the Coroner's Office with the dolorous task of disentangling the woman from the wreckage in a discrete and dignified manner.

The Los Angeles Police Department will be handling the collision investigation, while officials from the Coroner's Office will seek to positively identify the decedent as well as determine the exact cause, time and manner of her death.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

May 12, 2007

Northridge Couple Survive Crash Due To Seat Belts

On Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 8:09 PM, 7 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 2 Urban Search and Rescue Units and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 53 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief John Nowell responded to a Traffic Collision adjacent to the Westbound 210 Freeway at La Tuna Canyon Road in Tujunga.

Witnesses reported seeing a silver sedan leave the westbound lanes of the Foothill Freeway at speed, and plummet more than 100 feet down a steep brush covered ravine.

Though the car spun and slid wildly during its rapid downhill trek, it did not overturn. Despite the obvious severity of the event, the 86 year-old driver and her 89 year-old husband survived with non-life threatening injuries.

The veteran team of LAFD Paramedics who cared for the couple were quick to cite their proper use of seatbelts as a key factor in their survival.

The woman sustained an injured left clavicle, while her husband had an apparent lower leg fracture and scalp abrasion. The pair were gingerly removed from the wreckage of their vehicle, placed in litter baskets equipped with special all-terrain wheels and hoisted up the hillside via capstan and rope system.

The Northridge couple, described as in fair condition, were taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills by LAFD ambulance.

VIDEO

ORIGINAL TEXT AT : http://lafd.blogspot.com/2007/05/northridge-couple-survive-crash-due-to.html