On Wednesday, June 13, at 6:13 PM, 6 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 9 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 2 EMS Battalion Captains, 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, CHP, Cal Trans, the Coroner’s office and an MTA Supervisor, all under the direction of Battalion Chief Brian Cummings responded to an Auto vs Bike at NB 170 FY x Burbank Bl. in the North Hollywood area.
The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported traffic accident involving an MTA bus and a motorcyclist on the northbound 170 Freeway. On arrival, Fire Department resources found the freeway littered with “basketball” size cement debris, caused by the force of the MTA bus striking the center divider. Six to seven additional vehicles traveling the 170 Freeway collided causing subsequent accidents in their efforts to avoid the large flying debris. A sigalert was announced of the pending freeway shutdown.
Reports from the scene indicate the MTA bus and motorcycle were traveling northbound, when the motorcycle and its rider were thrust into oncoming southbound traffic and struck by a southbound vehicle. The rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
Quick and thorough medical assessments of the involved vehicles found 10 patients with a variety of minor complaints of injuries. All were transported to area hospitals. There were no passengers aboard the MTA bus.
The southbound 170 Freeway will be closed to traffic until the conclusion the the accident investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The Coroners office will determine the cyclist’s identity and cause of death.