Police and broadcast media reported that 63-year old Kelly Shimizu was in a marked crosswalk around 10:40 a.m when she was hit by a big rig that was turning from westbound Santa Monica Blvd onto the northbound 405 Freeway.

Shimizu was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 64-year-old truck driver, who has not been identified, did not stop. When the driver made a turn, one of the trailers attached to his 1990 Volvo tractor struck Shimizu. The truck driver has been identided asa resident of Whittier, California. The city of Whittier is located 12 miles southwest of Baldwin Park.

By law motorists are required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

“Investigators do not believe there was any crime involved; there was no evidence of alcohol or drug intoxication,” LAPD said in a statement. “The collision appears to be a tragic accident.”

The incident remains under investigation.

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Motorcycle bursts into flames after crashing into disabled semi truck parked on 405 Freeway in Los Angeles due to mechanical difficulties. Motorcyclist pronounced dead at the scene. Photo by KTLA

The driver of the semi truck had moved to the left carpool lane on the northbound side, near Hawthorne Boulevard due to mechanical problems.

A California Highway Patrol sergeant who was at the scene reports that the motorcyclist was speeding and could not stop in time. He crashed into the back of the semi truck causing his motorcycle to burst into flames as a result of the impact.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. His name and age were not immediately released.

The CHP sergeant said it’s possible the man was part of a motorcycle club in the area that gets together on Wednesday and Thursday nights. The sergeant said club members often like to “rev up the speed” following the gatherings, and had the man been going slower, he may have been able to stop in time.

The sergeant said witnesses reported the man was traveling “way above the maximum speed limit.”

At least two lanes of the northbound 405 were shut down while the cleanup and investigation continued.

The lanes were expected to reopen before the morning rush hour.

KTLA News contributed to this story.

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Burned out SUV on the 210 Freeway involved in fiery crash in Sunland, CA

The couple who were killed in the accident were described as a man and woman in their 40s. The boy who died was believed to be 14 years old. A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said that an 11-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl were dragged from the back of the burning SUV by man described as a passing “good Samaritan.”

The SUV, was pulling a trailer carrying recreational vehicles (bicycles and other toys). The burned bodies of a man, woman and a teenage boy were found in the SUV.

Location of fatal semi truck accident on the 210 Freeway in Sunland, CA

The big rig was carrying a load of lettuce.  Sgt Gus Torres of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that preliminary indications are that the big rig driver was stopped fully on the right shoulder … “For what reasons we still don’t know.” Sgt Torres went on to say that the right shoulders are typically designated for emergency stops.

The side of the road, especially between the La Tuna Canyon and Sunland exits on the 210 freeway, are known as places where truckers stop – especially at night to rest, but it’s only supposed to be for emergencies. Why the lettuce truck stopped remains under investigation.

The big rig semi truck was parked well inside the shoulder. What made the SUV veer off the road remains a mystery. Since that driver is dead it leaves investigators piecing together information from witnesses and the two young survivors who are at Children’s Hospital and who are expected to make it.

Below is a Google street view of the section of the 210 freeway where the accident occurred. You can click the mouse and drag it to pan around the scene of the accident.

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If you need information about truck accident law pertaining to Los Angeles, California, talk to a Los Angeles truck accident attorney who is qualified to answer your questions. At TruckAccidents360.com, you can find a California truck accident lawyer who specializes in representing victims involved in tractor trailer, big rig truck injury accidents.

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Marcos Costa in a Los Angeles County Courtroom

In the semi truck accident, the big rig’s brakes went out as Costa was coming down the Angeles Crest Highway approaching the intersection at Foothill Blvd. The big rig struck the vehicle carrying Posca and his daughter north of the intersection, then continued on down the hill colliding with several vehicles along the way. The truck came to a stop when it plowed into the Flintridge Bookstore.

Below you can see the skid marks from the semi truck skidding to a stop in the Flintridge Bookstore.

Scene of the truck accident where the skid marks end in the Flintridge Bookstore

Costa was originally charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Subsequently, a Los Angeles County grand jury returned an indictment of two counts of murder against him with additional charges of great bodily injury to be added to the vehicular manslaughter charges. Costa also had three counts of reckless driving, causing injury to three other victims.

Costa is being held in custody on $600,000 bail. Even though the murder charges have been dismissed, he still faces five charges of vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. Costa’s attorney, Steve Meister, said “This case was a tragic accident, not a murder.” If convicted, he faces more than eight years in prison.

In response to the tragic April 1st semi truck accident, immediately afterwards a 90-day ban was instituted prohibiting five-axle trucks from traversing the steep Angeles Crest Highway between the 210 Freeway and the Angeles Forest Highway. The temporary ban was made permanent at a later time.

Below is a Google street view of the scene of the accident at the intersection of Angeles Crest Highway and Foothill Blvd. You can click and drag your mouse button and pan around and see the storefront of the Flintridge Bookstore where the semi truck came to a halt.

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Los Angeles truck accident lawyer for victims, Steve Gordon, talks about how How Bad Truck Brakes Cause Accidents. See video.

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