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DTLA Accident Leaves Bus Driver Dead and a 7-Eleven Damaged
Posted on June 13, 2013 Written By: iadminlaw
The jewelry district in downtown is reeling from an accident that killed a bus driver and injured two other people. A Metro bus collided with a flatbed tow truck in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday morning.
The accident occurred exactly on 457 S. Broadway near 5th Street and it was the wee hours of the morning, around 5:15 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department which arrived at the scene due to the flammable risk.
Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center (Emergency Entrance) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The tow truck was headed southbound on the street and the bus was going through the intersection at the time, when for some reason, the tow truck ran a red light and crashed into the Metro bus.
“A citizen estimated the tow truck was driving about 60 miles an hour,” LAPD Sgt. Steve Dailey said. “The speed limit for here is about 30 miles an hour.”
The bus ended up knocking down a fire hydrant and sending water into the air and all over the intersection. The tow truck ended up slamming into a 7-Eleven store that was nearby the intersection.
“It appears based on witness testimony and video footage the tow truck driver was at fault,” LAPD’s Rudy Lopez said.
The 47-year-old woman, Olivia Gamboa, that was driving the bus was propelled from the vehicle and hit the ground face-down in water that had been spilling from the broken fire hydrant. She was taken to the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center, but she died at the hospital before she could be treated or saved. No one else was injured on the bus because there were no passengers in it at the time of the accident.
According to Metro, Gamboa, who resided in Montebello was a driver with the company for 13 years and her daughter and husband were bus drivers as well.
Co-workers expressed their grief and nice sentiments towards Gamboa, telling Metro.net that Gamboa was quiet, family-oriented and very well- liked by colleagues and passengers.
The 30-year-old male who was driving the tow truck was trapped and had to be rescued by paramedics from the vehicle. He was listed as being in serious condition at the same hospital Gamboa was taken to.
A 7-Eleven employee was injured but the injuries were minor and he was treated at the scene and released. The building has been deemed safe by an inspector who was called to the scene to determine the integrity of the structure after the collision from the tow truck.
5th Street was closed between Spring and Hill streets and Broadway was shut down between 4th and 6th streets.
Have you or someone you know and love been involved in an accident recently? If so, please contact a personal injury lawyer at Accident Attorney’s Group. These downtown Los Angeles accident attorneys are well-equipped to get you the settlement you deserve and want to fight for your rights. Call today!
