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Highland Avenue Crash Takes Lives of Mother, Two Children in Hollywood

Categories: Crash

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A mother and her children, ages 4 and 8, died when an SUV going the wrong way in traffic crashed into the woman's minivan and sent it careening into a light pole in Hollywood this morning, authorities said.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott stated that the tragic collision was reported about 7:23 a.m. near 860 N. Highland Ave., which is where the street crosses Willoughby Avenue.

Here's what we know about it:



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A gray Infinity SUV headed north on Highland crossed into southbound lanes and collided with the mom's blue Dodge Caravan, sending the minivan into a light post, LAPD Officer Bruce Borihahn told the Weekly.

The LAFD's Scott stated that "extrication" was "required" for some of the victims.

One of the children was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Borihahn and the LAFD. The mother and the other child were taken to a hospital, where they were declared dead, Borihahn said.

The driver of the Infinity was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries and was in unknown condition, he said.

Highland was closed between Melrose and Santa Monica boulevards late this morning as investigators combed the scene. There's no immediate word on why the Infinity driver allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic.

"It's a tragic accident," Borihahn said.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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RichardJohnson
RichardJohnson

New reports coming out say the male driver had a suspended license with priors for talking on cellphones among other infractions. And I agree with Matt Baume. The intersection is dangerous. Highland traffic always exceeds the speed limits and people run the light. Turn arrows on Willoughby would also help as the east/west traffic is bad with people passing on the right. 

mattbaume
mattbaume

Tragic, but not surprising. I navigate this intersection on my way to and from work every day, and it's terrifying. It defies logic that the city hasn't implemented traffic calming measures here. I hope nobody else has to die before that happens.

Rickardo
Rickardo

 @mattbaume I'm not sure what you're referring to. I live in that area. There's a light at that intersection as well as landscaping that  divides the northbound and southbound traffic.

LAguy
LAguy

 @Rickardo  @mattbaume Tragic for sure but I agree, there isn't anything unusual about this intersection. I've driven it many, many times. Unless traffic calming measures include padded lane dividers like they put in the gutters for kids at the bowling alley, I don't see what else can be done. This is just a sad, unfortunate accident.

goatea
goatea

 @LAguy  @Rickardo  @mattbaume they could make a turn light, for one. Though I don't suspect that would have prevented this accident. I just went to the site (work in the area) and there's a big sign that says 'let's be responsable(sic)" with a 'no cel phone' drawing. Was the guy on the cel phone? Or is someone just making a conjecture?

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