This just in: Fatal motorcycle crash to shut key stretch of Sunset Blvd. * updated

A motorcyclist who collided with a dump truck on Sunset Boulevard at about 3 p.m. today is dead, and authorities say they plan to shut down the busy thoroughfare to investigate, Steve Hymon reports.

The street will likely be shut down between Barrington Avenue and the 405 freeway, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman with the Los Angeles Fire Department. Motorists are encouraged to find an alternative route.

The accident involved a motorcycle that collided with a dump truck in the 11500 block of Sunset Boulevard. Humphrey said the fire department was summoned at 3:13 p.m., but by the time they arrived it was too late. The rider was trapped under the wheels of the truck.

"Despite a quick response, the man was sadly beyond our help and declared deceased at the scene," Humphrey said.

Steve's full story is here.

-- Veronique de Turenne

* Updated with link to story.

Comments

[Malby]

The point is that the deceased was dead at the scene and long gone before the "investigation" took place. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the person who died or the grief of the families left behind. Closing the highway for hours after the person is gone is not a show of respect for the deceased. Complaining about it is not a show of disrespect for the deceased. It's a complaint about the tendency of government employees to ignore the needs of the people who pay their salaries. How many people sat in traffic for 2.5 hours that day like the commenter above? Thousands. No one has established that there was any reason for it whatsoever.

[Steve G]

The victim was the nephew of my neighbor here in Westlake Village. As I also ride a motorcycle, this hits close to home and makes me that much more aware of cars and trucks that often do not see us or are too occupied using a cell phone, putting on make-up or eating that cheeseburger while driving. Statistically, only a very very small percentage of motorcycle-auto accidents are due to biker error. Many car drivers simply don't pay enough attention to the road and especially to those on motorcycles. It is scary to ride in Los Angeles and Orange Counties where there are so many cars not paying attention to driving.

As for those people making outrageous insensitive comments, well, I don't waste the energy of my fingers using this keyboard on them. enough said.

Love and Peace to the family and friends of this young man those time came much too early.

[Sheryn T Scott]

If those who were with Scott when he died or around him helping him could tell us it he was conscious at any time it would be helpful to know. As his family we thank those who cared enough to stop and help in any way they could.

[Reza Torkzadeh]

Having first-hand experience in dealing with motorcycle accidents, this is a tragic incident and should not be taken lightly. I think it is necessary for a thorough investigation into all fatal accidents. The comments above regarding the closure of Sunset Blvd. really shocked me at the insensitivity of some. I have met with individuals and families of those who have been in catastrophic accidents like this one and there is truely no pain like the unexpected loss of life as a result of a motorcycle accident.

[C Thomas]

It's unfortunate, when something like this occurs, your (you're) always going to have ignorant people, leaving ignorant comments, which anyone with any intelligence will overlook. It takes all kinds, even the less than compassionate to make up our world.
My condolences to the family.

[HE CARD READ GOOD]

Disaffected,

"Suck it up and when your hit by that ignorant driver"

speaking of ignorance,

it is

you're ( as in YOU ARE )

NOT your

[dipper]

much love

[jt]

I was at the scene when the victim was still alive. I was there when he died. The heroism of the two women who attended to him -- one an emergency room nurse, the other a physician's assistant -- was remarkable, as was the patience of their very young children, who waited nearby while their mothers worked to save him. Please tell his family that, in his final moments, he was not alone. We who were strangers tried to help him. I'm so sorry that we could not.

[Rachel]

I am with the last poster. The person who was killed was a friend and neighbor. I cannot believe how selfish some of you people are. It is one thing to be irritated by the traffic but to say "flattened by a dump truck" what kind of person are you?

[DEW]

First of all - thank you for the comments 'Disaffected'

Now, for all of you reading this ~ the deceased was my friend's son. Think about how your family or friends would feel reading your notes. Have we lost all compassion for everything except our cell phones and appointments?! Please be kind, take a step back and re-think what is important in life. It can all go much too fast.

Peace.

[GEAH]

Newsflash, Disaffected!

The victim was dead at the scene. No one was taken to safety.

Malby is correct. Fatal accidents take far too long to "investigate" at a great expense of man/hours of people who have nothing to do with the accident.

If I get flattened by a dump truck, scrape me up and open the road back up!

[Disaffected]

Have some compassion you selfish, self important fool.

I too sat in that traffic this evening and I too took 2 1/2 hrs to get home. It annoyed me at the time but at no time have I ever felt the need to hold those in the services accountable for this infraction because and I quote "..every law enforcement officer ... hangers on" get in the way. Suck it up and when your hit by that ignorant driver, or have your car obliterated by someone on their phone - be glad that those same officers have shut that road to ensure you are taken to safety.

[Malby]

why is it that the police close down a major artery at the drop of a hat? three hours for an investigation--why? it should take about 20 minutes to figure out which vehicle had right of way--then open up the road! These accident scenes seem to be party central with every law enforcement officer for miles and hangers-on rushing to watch, thereby clogging up the interstate.