1 Killed, Another Injured in Separate Santa Monica Accidents

by David Ganezer

Publisher

Santa Monica streets are a mess lately. Colorado is undrivable as the Metroline is constructed.

Lincoln Blvd., already narrowed in one lane near Colorado, will soon be carrying all the traffic on PCH, As California avenue closes. Road work and other construction forces increasingly impatient drivers into residential streets.

In such circumstances, and as Spring Break begins, it is not surprising that the fatality and injury rates appear to be increasing on local streets.

An investigation is underway following a fatal collision between a police cruiser and a scooter in Santa Monica Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at the intersection of 4th Street and Pico Boulevard around 7:40 a.m.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a Santa Monica police officer was traveling northbound on Pico Boulevard when it collided with a scooter rider traveling eastbound on 4th Street. CHP officials say they are still investigating who had the right of way.

Employees at a nearby AM/PM told Eyewitness News that they've reviewed their surveilllance video and that it appears the man on the scooter ran the red light.

The man on the scooter was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The officer was treated for minor injuries.

Investigators were in the process of reviewing surveillance video.

"The city of Santa Monica has a camera in the intersection and we do have video, and we're in the process of getting all that video footage," said CHP officer Karina Munoz.

Accident investigators also recreated the scene, driving at the approximate speed of the police cruiser when the collision occurred.

The victim's name has been withheld pending notification. CHP officials say the victim was a man in his 20s and was not a resident of Santa Monica.

Meanwhile, the SMPD is also searching for the driver of an older model white Buick Regal or a Chevy Caprice involved in a hit-and-run accident involving a 20-year-old man who was skateboarding on Saturday, April 6th.

The accident occurred at 17th Street and Marine Street at 7:50 pm, said Sgt. Jay Moroso of the SMPD/

"The victim and a friend were riding their skateboards south down a hill in the southbound lane of traffic on 17th Street with the friend following the victim," Moroso said. "According to the witness/friend, the victim skateboarder (went) through the stop sign for southbound traffic at Marine Street."

"The suspect's vehicle was seen driving through the intersection east on Marine Street at what was estimated at 15 mph," Moroso said. "It is unknown if he stopped for the eastbound stop sign at Marine Street."

Moroso said the suspect vehicle struck the victim while he was in the intersection and drove over his body.

The suspect stopped momentarily, but drove off without identifying himself/herself or rendering aid, Moroso said.

The victim, identified by KTLA as Ian Imes, sustained a broken vertebrae, a lung injury, and multiple scrapes, lacerations, and abrasions. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

KTLA quotes the victim's mother Cintia Holz saying that doctors believe it's unlikely he will ever walk again.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Santa Monica Police Department at 310.395.9931.