Tag Archives: Accident

Two People Seriously Injured By Drunk Driver In Front Of NBC

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A suspected drunk driver injured three people when she ran a red light Wednesday evening in front of the NBC Studios at Alameda and Olive Avenues.

Both cars received heavy damage in the Wednesday evening accident (Photo By Craig Sherwood)

Burbank Police and Fire Department personnel responded to the accident at 8:07 p.m.  Initial reports were that someone was trapped in one of the vehicles.  A fire truck company and an additional rescue ambulance were dispatched to assist at the scene.

According to police, the victims were heading westbound on Alameda Ave. in a 2001 green Ford Explorer, when the suspected drunk driver in a blue 1999 Jaguar going eastbound on Olive Ave., ran a red light. The 57 year-old driver of the Explorer saw the other car coming at him, but was unable to avoid the collision.  The Jaguar struck the Explorer nearly head-on.

The driver, from Venice, complained of pain to his left wrist, and would seek his own medical treatment.  One of his passengers, a 79 year-old woman, received lacerations to her mouth, and complained of chest pain.  She was transported to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. A 66 year-old man riding in the back seat of the Explorer received lacerations to his right eye area and upper lip, and spinal injuries to his neck.  He was transported to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.

The driver of the Jaguar, Maritza Luciano, 40, of Burbank, received three broken ribs in the accident.  After being treated at the hospital, she was arrested for felony drunk driving, and is being held on $100,000 bail.

 

Truck Crash on 5 Freeway Closes Lanes in Both Direction During Rush Hour

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Burbank Firefighters work to clean up a diesel spill that resulted in a major accident that closed the I-5 in both directions Friday afternoon.(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank Fire units received a call at 5:05 pm of a major truck accident on the southbound 5 Freeway at Hollywood Way.

Upon arriving at the scene, they found a tow truck, SUV and big rig had been involved in a accident and the can of the big rig had crashed through the cement center barrier of the freeway and was resting in the northbound lanes of the freeway.

While all three vehicles received heavy damage, there were no reported injuries, but the real concern turned to the diesel tanks of the big rig which were spilling diesel fuel across the northbound lanes.  All lanes in both directions were at a complete stop.

Burbank Firefighters work on containing a HazMat spill that resulted from the traffic accident northbound I-5 at Hollywood Way. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank’s Battalion Chief called for the Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) trucks from both Burbank and Glendale to respond to assist in stopping and cleaning up the fuel before it was  able to get into storm drains.  A check directly below on Hollywood Way showed that nothing had come through the freeway bridge above.

Once the spill was contained, officials opened one lane on each direction to start relieve the congestion until a trow truck was brought on scene to remove the truck cab, which once again closed lanes.

During the incident, Burbank streets such as Glenoaks and San Fernando quickly filled with motorists looking to get around the area.  Burbank police helped with traffic control.

Although the accident happened in Sun Valley, Burbank shares a mutual aid agreement with Los Angeles Fire and since Burbank was first to arrive on scene and had the situation under control before LA arrived because of traffic, they completed the incident.

CHP is in charge of the accident investigation, which is still on-going.

Burbank Firefighters clean up a Diesel spill on the northbound I-5 at Hollywood Way as a result of a major truck accident. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Late Night Accident Sends One Driver to Hospital

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Burbank Police received a call of an auto accident involving two cars in the intersection of Victory Blvd. and Alameda Street, with a person laying in the roadway.

Firefighters treat the driver of one of the cars involved, he refused further medical treatment after being checked by paramedics. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Once they got on scene they discovered a driver of one of the cars involved was laying on the sidewalk awaiting paramedics, the driver of the other car still sitting in the drivers seat.

Police reported that one of the cars was traveling eastbound on Alameda and was struck by the other car that was southbound Victory Blvd. Paramedics transported one of the drivers although her passenger was not injured or was her pet dog that was not secured in the car.

The other driver refused medical treatment.

Burbank Fire Captain Mark Hatch treats a victim as a Burbank Police Officer gathers information from a passenger. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

 

Overtuned Vehicle on Glenoaks Snarls Traffic

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Burbank Police and Firefighters responded to Glenoaks and East on Tuesday evening after it was reported a car struck a parked car and it’s driver might be trapped.

Burbank Firefighters & Paramedics render aid to the driver of this overturned car following her hitting a parked car and overturned. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Upon arrival the Firefighters found the driver outside of her overturned car, with no reported injuries.

The driver told police something ran in front of her car, causing her to swerve to her right to avoid a crash and struck a parked SUV causing her car to flip upside down. Glenoaks southbound was closed until the police could finish their investigation and the car was up-righted.

Paramedics talk to the driver after she struck a parked car and overturned on Glenoaks and East. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

 

Driver Unhurt When Car Hits Parked Vehicles and Overturns

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Burbank Police and Firefighters were called to the intersection of Fredrick St. and Verdugo Ave. after a car struck several parked cars and overturned, briefly trapping the driver inside.

Burbank Police investigate this auto accident which left one car overturned and several others damaged. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Firefighters arived on scene and determined that the driver was not injured.

Burbank Police investigated the  accident, and determined the driver was driving while impaired.  He was taken into custody for driving under the influence. Verdugo Ave. was closed to traffic while the street was blocked by the overturned car.  The street was opened after the car was up-righted and impounded.

Several parked cars were damaged as a result of this accident.  No one else was injured.   Police have not yet released the name of the driver.

Burbank Police officer take the unidentified driver into custody following a late night accident that left several damaged cars.(Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Local Family Escapes Serious Injury When Model A Hit

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A family with ties to Burbank escaped serious injury after their vintage car was destroyed in an accident near Buffalo, New York.

Steven and Janet Hedke, along with their daughter, Allie, were participating in the Hemmings Motor News Great Race which began June 23, and ended today, July 1.  The race, a rally for vintage cars (built before 1969) that pits driving teams against the clock and each other, started in Traverse City, Michigan and followed a route through 19 cities in the US and Canada, ending  at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.

The Hedkes are veteran Great Racers, having participated in the annual events from 2000-2007.  This year they entered their 1929 Model A Ford.   It’s a period hotrod convertible with a rumble seat.  By the fifth day of the race, the Hedkes had hit their all time best score, with two perfect legs, and two more with just a one-second error.  They took the top honors last Wednesday over 78 other cars.   The next day, everything changed.

“We went from the best day ever to the worst day ever the following day,” said Janet.

Leaving Watertown, NY, Thursday morning, the race was headed to Buffalo, NY.  Along the way disaster struck the Hedke’s car.  As they traveled down a road at 30 mph, another driver (not connected with the race) in a Chevrolet Suburban, came up behind them and struck them.  The little Model A is no match for a big SUV, but the open rear wheels with no fenders leveled the field.  When the Subuarban drove up and over the left rear wheel of the Model A, it caused both vehicles to swerve.  The Suburban rolled over on its top, sliding to the left towards a barn.  It hit a pole and ended up on its side.  The driver had to be cut out of her Suburban.  The Hedke’s feel the the open tire saved them.

The Hedke’s car veered into a grassy field and rolled over completely, ending up on the driver’s side.  The windshield was torn off and ended up in the road.  The convertible top and sun shade covering the rumble seat where Allie was riding, were flattened.  Fortunately, their seatbelts held them in, and Steven and Janet were able to climb out of their wrecked car and help Allie out of the rumble seat.  Miraculously, their injuries were relatively minor. Everyone had bruises, Steven injured his left shoulder, and Janet got a whiplash.  They spent the day at the hospital emergency room.  Their car wasn’t so lucky.  It may be a total loss.

Noting that the race staff starts each morning with a prayer for the safety of the racers, Janet said, “We are convinced God listened to those prayers for safety, and protected us so that we had as few injuries as we did.”

Janet Hedke holds up Ace Trophy, with husband Steve at her side. as Great Race official in red applauds the couple.

Not ones to quit, the Hedkes were back in the race on Friday.  The company insuring their Model A, Hagerty Insurance, just happens to be one of the Great Race sponsors.  They arranged for a rental car so the Hedkes could continue on the remaining three days of racing. Although their car was listed as DNF (Did Not Finish) they were allowed to “unofficially” complete the race in the rental Hyundai Santa Fe.  Race officials replaced all the stickers they had earned with the Model A, so that they could be displayed on the “vintage” Hyundai.  They also recieved thier Ace Award plaque for their perfect scores earlier in the race.

Janet Hedke is the daughter of Al Money, and the late LaRee Money of Burbank.  She graduated from John Burroughs  High School in 1974, and USC in 1978.  She has worked for the Walt Disney Co. for the past 18 years.   The Hedke’s live in Valencia.

 

The Hedke Family with their 1929 Model A Ford waiting to starrt the Great Race.

Thar She Blows – SUV Creates Unwanted Fountain Near DeBell Golf Course

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There she blows... A SUV traveling down Harvard Road from the Castway's found you have to travel a little SLOWER next time, after he spun out and hit a sprinkler valve. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank Police received the call as an auto overturned on Harvard Road, just above Sunset Canyon late Sunday evening. Upon their arrival they didn’t find any car overturned as reported, but a SUV that appeared to have come down from the Castaway Restaurant area a little to fast.

The car didn’t rollover, but lost control and ran into the fence along the side of the golf course. Fire Department Paramedics came by to check out the driver who didn’t appear injured and try to figure out where to shut the geyser off.

Remember that school is out for the summer and count this one as one of the many speeding accident that will occur throughout the summer…. SLOW DOWN the speed limit is only 35.

 

 

Motorcycle Accident Has Motorcycle Trying to Leave Scene of Accident

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Burbank Paramedics check out this male that was riding his motorcycle and crashed at Lima and the bike ended up at Hollywood Way. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank Police and Fire units received a call around 11 pm Thursday night of a motorcycle accident involving a motorcycle.  Upon arriving at scene, they were unable at first to find any problems and started to patrol the area.  They then came across a man down with a slight leg injury who had reported that he had been on a motorcycle.  After a further search of the area, the motorcycle was then found two blocks farther down the street with the only damage being a broken mirror when the bike fell over.  The man was treated for minor injuries and did not say how he and the motorcycle had parted ways.

This motorcycle went riderless for over 1000 feet or 2 city blocks. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Tanker Crash and Explosion Closes 5 and 134 Freeway Interchange

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Tanker fire halts traffic, and leaves the westbound 134 freeway at the I-5 closed for an unknown duration.

Calls started coming into the CHP dispatch center at 11:07 that reported a double tanker truck was

Glendale Fire assisted by Burbank Fire, Bob Hope Crash rigs and LA City Fire extinguish this tanker fire that burned 8600 gallons of fuel at 134 Fwy & I-5 last night. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

rolling westbound past Brand Blvd. with fire visible. Glendale Fire units were first to respond and arrived on scene westbound 134 underneath the I-5 transition bridge with a double tanker well involved with fire along with a sedan in front of the truck that was also involved.

Fire units from Los Angeles City Fire on hand to help stop any spread, but had a water supply problem, until they could stop traffic and gets hose lines laid-out. Glendale Battalion Chief who was also the Incident Commander, requested a second alarm and two Crash rigs from The Bob Hope Airport with firefighting foam.

The total amount of Firefighters on hand were 150 and they knocked the flames in close to one hour and 10 minutes.Firefighters conducted a search of both vehicles and found no victims, and were informed that all parties involved got out safely and we near a Command Post that was setup on the freeway.

Damage to the bridge and freeway will have to be inspected by Safety Engineers prior to the lanes and transition bridge reopened.

Photo By Ross A. Benson

( Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Photo By Ross A. Benson

Photo By Ross A. Benson

Photo By Ross A. Benson

 

 

How did information get out?  Besides listening to the fire departments on scanners, you can also catch information on your computer directly from CHP.  Here is the play by play from the time the accident was reported at 11:07 pm up until 2:00 am.  A lot of it is in codes, some in plain English.  Reports came in through the public and officers at the scene.

If you want to monitor it for yourself, here is a direct link

Detail Information
1:59 AM 73 98-65 97 ZOO ONR TO EB 134, GLDL PD IS 98
1:53 AM 72 98-S8//REQ CT TO ROLL TO ZOO AT EB 134 FOR OFCR RELIEF
1:45 AM 71 98-S8//GLDL PD REQ AN OFCR FOR REL ZOO TO EB 134, 98-65 WILL ROLL IN ABOUT 10
1:32 AM 70 98-S8 REQ CT TO RESP ALSO TO NB 5 TO EB 134 CON, EB 134 JWO VICTORY, SB 5 TO EB 134 TRANS TO RELIEVE OFCRS
1:30 AM 69 98-S8//WB 134 AT SAN FERNANDO SHUT DWN//CT RESP EB 134 FOR HARD CLOSURE TO RELIEVE OFC
1:25 AM 68 98-65 IS BACK ENRT TO THE SCENE W/ FLARES – WILL GIVE 98-51 FIRST
1:23 AM 67 98-51 COPIES LINE #150
1:16 AM 66 1039 GLDL PD ADVS IS ENRT SHLD BE 97 ANY MOMENT FOR LN 138
1:02 AM 65 CT PLS CONFIRM LINE #130 AND CORRECT NUMBER – THANKS
1:00 AM 64 1039 GLDL PD CPYS LN 138 WILL HAVE A UNIT ENRT
12:57 AM 63 PER 98-S8 1185 TOOK TOW CORRECT WAY DID NOT GO OVER ANYTHING
12:56 AM 62 PER 98-S8 IF THE CAN BACK UP THE BIG RIG HAVE THEM GO TO THE TRANS TO NB 5 OR THE 134 IF THEY CAN BACK UP BIG RIG
12:56 AM 61 FLAMES HAVE DAMAGED THE BRIGDE AND UNK IF BRIDGE IS STRUCTUALLY SOUND
12:56 AM 60 PER 98-S8 REGARDING LINE #128 NEG AT THIS TIME
12:51 AM 59 LAPD SUPERVISOR IS 1097 W/AN EMPLOYEEE FRM THE TANKER COMPANY AT ZOO DR / REQING IF EMPLOYEE SHOULD 1023 W/LAPD OR IF CHP NEEDS EMPLOYEE TO RESP TO A DIFFERENT 1020
12:49 AM 58 PER 98-65 GET CONFIRMMATION FROM S8 IF CITYWIDE CAN TOW OVER THE TRANS FROM WB 134 TO SB 5
12:47 AM 57 ADVS S8 – STATEWIDE TOW ETA 10-15 W/ ROTATOR ARRIVING FIRST
12:45 AM 56 PER 98-C GET 1020 AND ETA FOR 1185
12:44 AM 55 1039 GLENDALE OP: 31 CPYS LN 120- PLS ADVS UPDATE AND DURATION AS SOON AS AVAILABLE FOR A RECALL- THX
12:41 AM 54 RP ON LN 98 COPIES NOT THIER COMPANY TRK
12:40 AM 53 98-S8//TRFC IS SB ON 5 TO EB 134 NEEDS TO BE CLOSED VEHS STILL GETTING THRU
12:26 AM 52 FIRE EB IN WB LNS 1/2 MILE BEFOR VICTORY
12:24 AM 51 98-C//ADV UNIT LAFD ROLLIN EB IN WB BETWEEN VICTORY AND FOREST LAWN //98-20, LAFD EXITED ON VICORY
12:22 AM 50 98-C1 CITY WIDE 97 WILL BE REMOVING BIG RIG FRM WB 134
12:18 AM 49 1039 STATEWIDE –THEY HAVE WRECKER,LANDAU AND HAZMAT -JUST LEAVING RIVERSIDE\
12:11 AM 48 PER 98-S8/OWNER SHIP OF TANKER IS UNK AT THIS TIME//LINE 82
12:11 AM 47 PLS ADVS A # FOR STATEWIDE //THIS IS NOT ONE OF OUR 1185S
12:08 AM 46 FIRE IS GOING TO HAVE RIG ACCESS FRM WRONG WAY
12:08 AM 45 98-S8//FIRE REQ NB 5 TO EB 134 TRANS CLOSED THEY ARE STILL GETTING TRFC, CAN A CENTRAL UNIT ASST
12:08 AM 44 PER 15-S11 // WILL SEND UNIT TO CHK TO SEE IF VEH IS 97 AT ZOO / BUT WONT TAKE COURTESY DUE TO FACT THAT VEH WAS INVD WITH BIG RIG TC
12:05 AM 43 1125 BIG RIG STALLED ON TRANS RD CONFIRM STATEWIDE ENRT//98-65
12:04 AM 42 SMALL VEH IN TC INV WITH BIG RIG( FUEL TANKER ) REAR TRAILER OVERTURNED CAME TO REST UNDER 5 TRANS – TRACTOR WAS ALSO ON FIRE
11:59 PM 41 PDS TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR ADV RESP FOR DRIVER INV WITH TANKER TK HAS STATEWIDE TOWING AND HAZMAT ENRT WITH 30-40 MIN ETA
11:55 PM 40 FOR LINE 69 TRAFFIC SHOULD BE MOVING SHORTLY ONLY SB 5 TO EB 134 TRANS CLOSED
11:52 PM 39 SB 5 TO EB 134 TRANS CLOSED PER 98-51
11:52 PM 38 SUFFIENT UNITS 97 AND FIRE IS GETTING FIRE UNDER CONTROL PLS ADV GLDL PD FOR LINE 71
11:51 PM 37 1039 LAFD W LINE 66-WILL RESPOND UNIT TO CHK ON PTYS
11:47 PM 36 40 MINS ETA
11:46 PM 35 PER 60-TAN CHEV TAH CDF COMING UP TO INCIDENT
11:44 PM 34 1023 FOR ETA
11:42 PM 33 CAN CT PLS ADV ETA FOR CT SUPERVISOR
11:42 PM 32 ADVS LAPD OF INVD DRVR RELATED TO LN 19 ON LN 36 – ENRT
11:42 PM 31 CT ETA FOR SUPERVISOR
11:42 PM 30 1039 LAFD COPIES LN 50 RE PDS TRANS ROLLING HAZMAT, LAFD WILL BE ROLLING THEIR OWN HAZMAT
11:41 PM 29 98-51 SB 5 JNO 134,HAVE ALL TRFC STOPPED SB 5 JNO 134 AND ALL TRANS RDS
11:40 PM 28 GLDL PD / WB 134 TO SB 5 CON – VEHS STILL ON BRIDGE – REQ ING ALL VEHS OFF BRIDGE ASAP – GLDL PD ADVS S OF LINES 39/40
11:39 PM 27 PER 41-VERBALLED EVERYONE BACK INTO THE CARS
11:39 PM 26 PDS TRANSPORTATION HAS REQ D STATEWIDE TOW OO RIVERSIDE TO RSPND – THEY ARE ALSO STARTING HAZMAT
11:38 PM 25 60-EB AT FOREST LAWN W/A BREAK
11:38 PM 24 CALLER STATES MULTI PTYS ARE GETTING OUT OF VEHS AND WALKING ON FWY & BRIDGE ** SAG RP ** TRANS TO FIRE DEPT
11:37 PM 23 51 SB 5 AT WESTERN W/A BREAK
11:33 PM 22 1039 LAPD 5412 OP 319 – COPIES LINE 19 AND IF PARTY LOCATED THEY WILL QUESTION HIM FOR FURTHER
11:28 PM 21 41-1125 BIG RIG WB 134 TO SB 5 TRANS RD
11:27 PM 20 SIGALERT ISSUED ON THE BLU – LOG 3667
11:27 PM 19 RP IS INVS 8600 GALLONS OFF FUEL IN TANKER
11:26 PM 18 PER 41-HEAVY SMOKE,NO ONE WITHIN 150 FT OF FLAMES
11:25 PM 17 MEDIA IS ASKING IF A SIGALERT IS REQUIRED?
11:24 PM 16 ISSUE SIGALERT-3 HR SIGALERT EB 134 AND WB 134 AT PACIFIC
11:24 PM 15 GLENDALE PD HAS 8 UNITS ON SCENE //THERE WILL BE INTEGRITY ISSUES W/ THE BRIDGE //GLENDALE HAS 2 UNITS EB 134 AT THE 5,1- SB 5 AT 134 BLOCKING #1 & 2 LN,1- BLOCKING WB 134 JEO PACIFIC, & 2 UNITS WB 134 AT SAN FERNANDO RD, & 2 UNITS 134 AT SAN FERNANDO
11:24 PM 14 TREES CATCHING FIRE ON TRANS RD
11:23 PM 13 PER GLENDALE FD – VEHS BACK UP ON THE 5 OVERPASS – PLS ROLL CHP FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL
11:22 PM 12 PER LAFD //THEY ARE 97 W GLENDALE FD //VEH INTO SEMI TANKER
11:21 PM 11 FIRE BILLOWING OVER 5 TRANS FRM WB
11:21 PM 10 RP ADVSD TRNS RD IS ON FIRE
11:19 PM 9 PER LAFD CAPT REQ TO HAVE ALL LNS SHUT SB 5 TRANS TO EB 134
11:16 PM 8 PER INVLD // PRTYS O/O VEH AND ARE SAFELY AWAY FROM CFIRE // 1039 LAFD COPIES // RP HAS VIS OF AMBULANCE IN AREA
11:16 PM 7 PER DUPE FWY IS IN LNS USE CAUTION
11:12 PM 6 PER DUPE DOUBLE TANKER TRK OVERTURNED AND FIRE SPREADING
11:11 PM 5 DUPE*1183*SEMI TANKER VS GRY SD AND NOW CFIRE
11:11 PM 4 PER DUPE // WB 134 JWO BRAND // HUGE FIRE ON GASOLINE TANKER // TK WAS STILL IN MOTION
11:10 PM 3 LAFD#1278
11:08 PM 2 1039 LAFD COPEIS
11:07 PM 1 GASOLINE TANKER ON FIRE

Accident Closes 134 Freeway in Burbank

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Burbank Fire Fighters had to use the Jaw of Life to remove the roof of the car after a crash on the Eastbound 134 Fwy @ Buena Vista Saturday morning. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Saturday morning around 9:50 am,  Burbank Fire Fighters responded a full rescue assignment on the eastbound 134 freeway east of Buena Vista for a traffic collision.

Upon there arrival they found one car in the center divider with no injuries, but directly across from it was a car over the embankment into a cement drainage culvert. The sole occupant need to be cut from the car using the ‘Jaws Of Life’.

Firefighters needed to cut the roof off the car to get the driver out. Once the driver was freed and treated by Burbank Paramedics they transported him LA County USC Medical Center with unknown injuries.

California Highway Patrol closed the freeway till the HOV lane could be cleared.

The Fire Department operations were directed by Battalion Chief Kenet Robertson.

 

Burbank Paramedics stabilize this victim after his car was involved in a two car accident on the 134 Fwy at Buena Vista. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Burbank Firefighters rescued one male after his car went over the side after a 2 car accident on the 134 Fwy east of Buena Vista. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)