Horrifying moment LAPD squad car plows down male pedestrian and kills him as he crosses the street: heartbreaking video shows officer’s desperate attempt to revive the man …
By Dolores Chang For Dailymail.Com[1]
Published: 20:12, 9 January 2024 | Updated: 20:22, 9 January 2024
A squad car from the Los Angeles[2] Police Department plowed down a male pedestrian and killed him as he crossed the street.
Luis Espinosa, 26, succumbed to his injuries after the horrifying crash, captured on dashcam footage released by LAPD on Sunday.
The man from Long Beach, California[3], was running southbound on Century Boulevard at around 5pm on December 8 when he was struck by a marked cruiser.
The officer, who has not been identified, 'inappropriately activated her emergency lights,' according to the police.
'I have very serious concerns regarding the officer's driving leading up to the collision,' LAPD Chief Michel Moore said in a statement.
A squad car from the Los Angeles Police Department plowed down a male pedestrian and killed him as he crossed the street
The officer, who has not been identified, 'inappropriately activated her emergency lights,' according to the police
Luis Espinosa, 26, succumbed to his injuries after the horrifying crash, captured on dashcam footage released by LAPD on Sunday
The video released by LAPD starts with the unnamed officer speeding eastbound on Century Boulevard with the flash and siren activated.
The marked police vehicle hit Espinoza, who was running across traffic outside the crosswalk at McKinley Avenue and Century Boulevard.
Espinoza was struck 75 feet outside of the marked crosswalk, police said.
The cruiser immediately stopped after the crash, but it took the officer more than a minute to exit the car and ran towards the victim, the video's timestamp shows.
'Can I get a RA (Rescue Ambulance) for a male? Not conscious, not breaking,' the officer can be heard saying on the police radio.
The marked police vehicle hit Espinoza, who was running across traffic outside the crosswalk at McKinley Avenue and Century Boulevard.
Espinoza was struck 75 feet outside of the marked crosswalk, police said
In addition to the surveillance footage, authorities also released images revealing a substantial dent on the hood of the cruiser
The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing
Espinosa, who can be seen lying motionless on the street, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
'Information we've gathered up to this point indicates that, in addition to her traveling at a high rate of speed, she inappropriately activated her emergency lights as she was traveling along Century Boulevard,' Moore said.
'An Internal Affairs investigation has been initiated, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available,' he added.
A spokesperson from LAPD told DailyMail.com that they don't have information regarding whether the officer with the Community Safety Partnership Bureau was responding to an emergency call.
The Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team (MCIT) is expected to present the case to the District Attorney Office to determine whether a crime was committed.
The video released by LAPD starts with the unnamed officer speeding eastbound on Century Boulevard with the flash and siren activated
Authorities said the officer was assigned to the Community Safety Partnership Bureau but did not specify what emergency she was heading to
The cruiser immediately stopped after the crash, but it took the officer more than a minute to exit the car and ran towards the victim, the video's timestamp shows
In addition to the surveillance footage, authorities also released images revealing a substantial dent on the hood of the cruiser.
'We mourn the loss of this individual,' Moore said at a press conference.
'It is important as our officers move about the city that we conduct ourselves professionally, that we obey the rules of the road and that we drive about in a manner that is considerate of the actions of pedestrians and the motoring public.'
The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Former LAPD officer, police union leader and LA Councilmember Dennis Zine told FOX 11[4]: 'The statements by the chief of police is that the Code 3 -- red lights and sirens -- which is used for emergency calls was inappropriate.
'That's a problem.' He said. '[The case] raises so many questions and appears very serious.'
'Whether the pedestrian was crossing legally or illegally, the question is why that unit was going Code 3, a solo unit.
Normally when it's a Code 3, there's a two-person unit responding to that situation,' Zine said.
Los AngelesCalifornia[5][6]References
- ^ Dolores Chang For Dailymail.Com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Los Angeles (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ California (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ FOX 11 (www.foxla.com)
- ^ Los Angeles (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ California (www.dailymail.co.uk)