Valley Glen Grandmother Killed Walking on Sidewalk with Granddaughters
On Saturday, April 30, 2016, a 63-year-old grandmother who was walking down the sidewalk with her three granddaughters was struck by a car that was involved in a chain reaction crash. The tragic accident occurred at about 4:20 in the afternoon in Valley Glen. The three girls, ages 13, 8, and 7, were also injured and returned home from the hospital on the following night.
The crash occurred at the 12900 block of Vanowen Street, an area where residents say speeding is an ongoing problem. According to the LAPD, the driver of a white BMW tried to pass other cars that were in the center turn lane when it struck a silver Mustang. The impact triggered two chain reaction collisions as the Mustang plowed into seven parked cars, two of which were totaled.
After clipping the Mustang, the BMW jumped the curb. It headed straight at the grandmother, Myrna Herrera, and the three girls, knocking into them before crashing through a wrought iron fence surrounding an apartment building. A witness reported that he believed the family saw the BMW coming at them and that one of the girls jumped off of her bike trying to avoid the oncoming car.
Family witnessed LA pedestrian crash
Herrera and her granddaughters were returning from a walk to buy Slurpees at the 7-Eleven down the street from their house when the crash occurred. Herrera’s son Mauricio and his wife, who are the parents of the 7-year-old girl, were walking just a bit ahead of his family when the pedestrian knock down happened. Mauricio saw his mother, daughter, and nieces on the ground not moving.
Herrera reportedly died later that night at the hospital. Her son refers to her as a guardian angel who protected the lives of his daughter and nieces. “I know it’s going to be a big loss, but at the end, she made a big sacrifice and we can still have the younger lives, because that’s how it has to be. The younger ones have to take place here on this Earth, and my mom did her part.”
Liability questions in pedestrian accidents
Pedestrian accidents are a bit more shocking than typical car accidents; the average person would not feel threatened by cars on the road because it is not often that they charge the sidewalk to strike a bystander. Once the shock of a pedestrian crash passes, it may be time to ask who was at fault.
Drivers must operate their vehicles in safe ways that comply with traffic laws. At the same time, pedestrians need to avoid doing anything unreasonably unsafe. If either party breeches their duty and that breech causes or contributes to the accident, they may be liable. Compensation in these types of cases can include reimbursement for past and future medical expenses, emotional distress and pain and suffering, lost income, and even funeral costs.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident in the greater Los Angeles area, a personal injury attorney at Ellis Law Firm can explain your rights.
Call us toll-free at 310-641-3335 for a free case evaluation.