A 30-year-old woman on foot was fatally struck by a mid-size luxury crossover SUV on a freeway interchange in downtown Los Angeles Saturday.
The crash was reported at 4:33 a.m. Saturday on the transition road from the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway to the northbound Harbor (110) Freeway, where responding California Highway Patrol officers found the victim near the freeway divider, CHP Officer Erik Larson told City News Service.
A white Lexus RX 350 struck the pedestrian, who was reported walking across lanes, the CHP stated. The driver remained on the scene to assist officers.
The pedestrian, pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified by the Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner as Kathryn Gerdes. Her city of residence was not available.
A Sigalert issued at 5:02 a.m. closing the nos. 1, 2 and 3 lanes of the transition road was canceled at 8:25 a.m., the CHP reported.
The presence of foot pedestrians on Los Angeles freeways and busy highways is becoming more frequent. Without a doubt this occurrence is extremely dangerous and poses risks to everyone involved. I’m saddened by the loss of life to the pedestrian but I also am thankful that the driver of the SUV and any passengers did not suffer harm. That transition is fat and busy. I drive out often. Even during the daylight hours it commands attention and requires coordination of drivers, speed…etc. I cannot imagine how scary it was to happen upon a pedestrian and at 3 4 am because at that hours there’s always a little fog.