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Arson Suspected In String of Vehicle, Trash Fires

Arson Suspected In String of Vehicle, Trash Fires

Source: flickr/Tex Texin via Creative Commons

The Los Angeles arson investigators are investigating a string of vehicle and trash fires over the past few week. The fires have occurred in and around the Echo Park area.

The first suspected arson fire was reported on Feb. 19. The fire started between midnight and 4 a.m. in the 1300 North Portia St. said Los Angeles Fire Department Senior Arson Investigator David Liske in an interview with CBS Los Angeles. The fire engulfed three city trashcans that also damaged a nearby car.

This was the first of four fires.

In the same morning, another trashcan was set on fire on Sunset Boulevard and McDuff Street, said Liske in an interview with CBS Los Angeles.

On Feb. 25, a vehicle fire was reported in the 1400 block of Portia Street, near Galveston Street. The fire started around 2 a.m. and is also suspected to be arson.

Another incident is suspected to be a failed arson attempt. Leaves were found on a park car at Laveta Terrace and Sunset Boulevard, said Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Ruda said in an interview with CBS Los Angeles.

“Sometimes, arsonists begin small,” Ruda said in an interview with CBS Los Angeles. “Hopefully each fire doesn’t get bigger.”

The investigation is ongoing and it isn’t clear if there are any suspects currently. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section at (213) 893-9850.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: CBS Los Angeles

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River Rescue Called Off

River Rescue Called Off

With the torrential rainfall over the last few days taking its toll on local police and fire personnel, a river rescue was called off Saturday morning after a reported car in the river turned out to only be a concrete barrier.

A jogger, running along the Los Angeles River, contacted fire officials after reportedly seeing a car in the raging river water.

Firefighters responded when they received other reports of a vehicle in the water near the 5 Freeway and Zoo Dr. in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles.

Fire officials arrived on the scene around 8 a.m. and searched the area. Aerial footage showed several Los Angeles City firefighters in the area investigating the reports.

With the wicked weather, there are things you can do to be safe on the roads. Keep your eyes scanning the road ahead, looking for any potential hazards. Slow down, this will help compensate for a car’s longer stopping distance in the rain.

If a car begins to slip and lose traction, don’t slam on the brakes. In the rain, the limited traction will cause brakes to lock up and lengthen a car’s stopping distance.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: NBC Southern California

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Body Found in Trunk of Burning Car

Body Found in Trunk of Burning Car

A body of a man was found in the trunk of a burning car Monday in Panorama City.

A call of a car fire near Terra Bella St. and Vena Ave. came in around 10:20 p.m. to the Los Angeles City fire department, said officials.

After firefighters responded and put out the burning car, they discovered the body of a man inside the trunk The burning car was an Audi A4.

The identity of the man wasn’t readily available, but officials said he appeared between 25 and 35 years old. The cause of his death is still under investigation. The coroner is working on identifying the man and his cause of death.

“We’ll have to wait for the coroner’s conclusion to find out, but the murder does show signs of gang or narcotics influence,” said Lt. Paul Vernon in an interview with CBS Los Angeles.

“The fire fully engulfed the passenger compartment, but never made it to the trunk,” Lt. Vernon said.

The death appears to be gang-related and homicide detectives have taken over the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: CBS Los Angeles

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Salma Hayek’s Brother Involved in Crash, One Killed

Salma Hayek's Brother involved in crash, one killed

One person was killed Sunday after a sports car driven by Salma Hayek’s brother, Sami Hayek, crashed into a truck in the Bel-Air area of Los Angeles.

The accident occurred on Sunset Blvd. near Mapleton Dr. around 4:50 p.m.

The sports car, a 2006 Ford GT, was heading eastbound on Sunset Blvd. when Sami Hayek lost control, crossing into the westbound lanes and colliding with a 2011 Toyota Tacoma pickup, according to the Los Angeles Police Department in an interview with ABC 7 Los Angeles.

Hayek’s passenger, 43-year-old Cuttler Sala of New York, died at the scene. Cuttler is famous for his photography. He won a Grammy Award for best art direction for “Johnny Cash: The Legend” box set music package.

The driver of the Toyota Tacoma, 20-year-old Alvin Gomez of Los Angeles, allegedly suffered a broken foot. Hayek suffered several broken ribs. Both were transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood. An update to their condition is unknown.

Anyone with information about the accident is urged to contact West Traffic Division Detectives, Officer Tirella or Officer Hutchings at (213) 473-0234. The accident is still under investigation.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: ABC Los Angeles

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18-Year-Old Allegedly Leads Police on High-Speed Chase

18-Year-Old Allegedly Leads Police on High-Speed Chase

An 18-year-old was pulled from a white BMW after a high-speed chase ended on Pacific Coast Highway Thursday night. The chase allegedly exceeded 100 mph.

The incident began around 8:30 p.m. when police tried to stop the white BMW 7-Series on the 5 Freeway near Indiana St, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The 18-year-old driver is an UV Irvine student from China. When the roadway was clear, an officer attempted a PIT maneuver on the BMW. Rather than spinning out, the car simply swerved. The driver quickly pulled over and surrendered.

The chase ended on Pacific Coast Highway near Lunita Rd. around 9:15 p.m. The police handcuffed the 18-year-old and two passengers and put them all into squad cars.

The driver said the BMW was a new car and he recently obtained his driver’s license in an interview with NBC Los Angeles. He said he did not understand why he was being chased and was afraid of the California Highway Patrol.

According to officials, the student followed most of the traffic laws during the high-speed chase. He may not be facing as many charges as he would had he disobeyed the traffic laws.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: NBC Los Angeles

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Two-Car Crash Leaves One Dead

Two-Car Crash Leaves One Dead

An early morning accident left one dead Saturday after a two-car crash occurred in downtown Los Angeles.

The accident occurred by the train tracks at the intersection of Pico Blvd. and Flower St. The accident occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m.

Three people were transported to an area hospital. One was pronounced dead. The condition of the other two victims was not immediately available.

Both vehicles ended up on the train tracks after the accident. This caused some delays to the Metro Blue Line.

The cause of the accident isn’t known yet, but investigators are looking to see whether or not alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.

Police officials haven’t released the identities of the three victims. Anyone with more information is asked to contact their local authorities.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: KABC-TV Los Angeles

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Car Crash Leads to Gang Shooting

Woman found shot dead in downtown Los Angeles

Source: flickr/Tex Texin via Creative Commons

A suspected gang member was shot Monday after a minor car crash. Rival gang members in Los Angeles shot the victim in the thigh. Authorities say the incident may have been related to a gang shooting.

The victim, who hasn’t been identified by authorities, was involved in a minor car accident before being shot. The accident occurred at 49th St. and Vermont Ave, said Sgt. Steve Vera of LAPD’s 77th Division.

After the minor car crash, the victim got out of his car and was then posted by rival gang members. They then opened fire, Vera said.

Authorities don’t know how many shots were fired or how many gunman were involved, Vera added. There were no other victims involved in the incident.

The victim was transported to an area hospital with stable vital signs.

The car crash and gang shooting are still under investigation said officials. Authorities haven’t released a description of the victim or suspects involved in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: Los Angeles Daily News

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Toddler Died in Now Recalled Graco Car Seat

Toddler Died in Now Recalled Graco Car Seat

Millions of Graco car seats are being recalled after concerns from the federal safety regulators about their safety in an emergency. A Los Angeles toddler died in a car fire after the buckle on her Graco car seat got stuck and her mother was unable to remov her from the seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation has led Graco Children’s Products to recall 3.8 million car seats.

According to a letter sent to Graco by the safety agency, the car seat investigation “revealed numerous instances where the harness buckle was difficult or impossible for consumers to unlatch.”

The Los Angeles toddler that died, two-year-old Leiana Ramirez, was killed in a car fire on the Arroyo Seco Parkway in Highland Park while in a Graco Nautilus car seat. Leiana’s mother tried to remove her from the burning car, as did a bystander who was later hospitalized, but were unable to remove her in time.

According to the agency’s website, a faulty Graco buckle can make it “difficult to remove the child from the restraint, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a vehicle crash, fire, or other emergency, in which a prompt exit from the vehicle is required.”

Graco is sending replacement buckles to owners who registered their car seats. Those who did not register but want a replacement can call their hotline at 800-345-4109.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: NBC Los Angeles

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Shooting Victim Found Near USC Campus

aShooting Victim Found Near USC Campus

A gunshot victim was found Wednesday near the University of Southern California. It is believed the victim was part of an altercation with a gunman in another vehicle, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Police received a report of a shooting victim near campus around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday. The shooting is suspected to be gang related.

No USC students were involved with the shooting. The shooting occurred “several miles” from the USC campus, school officials said in an interview with NBC Los Angeles.

An alert stating the emergency was “non-USC affiliated,” was issued asking students to stay away from the campus’ Gate 6 area due to a medical emergency.

The victim, who hasn’t been identified, is currently hospitalized. The victim’s condition was not available.

According to officials, the car-to-car shooting occurred near 57th St. and Hoover St. The shooting occurred about two miles south of where the victim was eventually discovered.

The investigation is still ongoing.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: NBC Los Angeles

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Wrong-Way Crash Kills Six

Wrong-Way Crash Kills Six

An early Sunday morning crash killed six people in a wrong-way, three-car pileup in Diamond Bar.

Authorities say 21-year-old Olivia Carolee Culbreath was drunk when she was driving her 2013 Chevrolet Camaro the wrong way on the westbound 60 Freeway.

She hit two other vehicles, killing two people in her car, and four people in a red Ford Explorer. The driver of the third car, Joel Cortez, 57, of Ontario, suffered only minor injuries. He is home recovering.

The Camaro driver, Culbreath, is listed in stable condition and will be arrested on suspicion of DUI causing great bodily injury and manslaughter when she’s released, the California Highway Patrol said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Investigators “believe from what they found in the vehicle that alcohol was involved, said Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Witnesses say that Culbreath may have been driving in excess of 100 mph at the time of the crash. She is suspected of DUI.

DMV records show Culbreath has had her license suspended numerous times in connection with excessive blood-alcohol levels. At the time of the accident, her license was revoked. Culbreath was just 17 years old when she was convicted in juvenile court on April 13, 2010, of driving drunk, DMV officials said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

If you need a car accident lawyer call The Accident Attorneys Group at 877-857-7720.

Source: Los Angeles Times