Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - Investigators are still trying to determine why a driver slammed their vehicle into a tree Thursday.

The crash occurred in the 100 block of Colorado Place just before 11:30 a.m. January 15. A preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle was southbound when it veered off the road and hit the tree, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

“The driver, and sole occupant, was unresponsive upon officers’ arrival. The Arcadia Fire Department also responded to the scene and the driver was later pronounced deceased,” according to the Arcadia Police Department in a written statement.

The driver’s identity has yet to be publicly revealed until next of kin have been notified.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to call the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5151, case number 26-0188. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - Several customers are thinking “oh thank heaven” after narrowly avoiding major injuries when a car made a dramatic entrance into a 7-Eleven June 28.

An alleged drunk driver crashed a white Prius through the front entrance of the 7-Eleven, 1003 S. Baldwin Ave., around 10:30 p.m. Friday and through the convenience store.

Four customers inside the store were treated for injuries ranging from minor to moderate. Multiple bags of chips and some cases of Pacifico did not survive.

The uninjured driver, a 53-year-old Arcadia resident, was arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence. His name was not publicly released.

ARCADIA – An Oxnard man already on probation for robbery was put behind bars December 9 after fleeing officers with a stolen package in tow and attempted to steal a vehicle after breaking into a resident’s home in North Hollywood.

The package, unbeknownst to the suspect, was a bait package featuring a hidden GPS device that alerted officers. The package was taken from the 200 block of East Magna Vista Avenue around 3:13 p.m., according to the Arcadia Police Department.

Officers tracked the suspect’s movements through multiple cities. A brief pursuit was initiated into Burbank, but the chase was cancelled after the reckless suspect crashed into another vehicle and continued to flee, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

A police helicopter was used to track the suspect into North Hollywood where he collided with two parked vehicles. He fled on foot.

“While fleeing, the suspect entered a home in the 6600 block of Lernay Street in North Hollywood. He confronted the resident inside, stole car keys, and ran from the home,” according to the Arcadia Police Department in a written statement. “The suspect attempted to steal a vehicle parked on the street but was unsuccessful.”

Residents chased the suspect who continued to run. He hid in a rear yard in the 6600 block of Morella Avenue in North Hollywood where officers arrested the suspect without further incident.

A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed the bait package and multiple other pieces of stolen property. He was booked on suspicion of grand theft, evading a peace officer, burglary attempted vehicle theft, hit and run and for multiple outstanding warrants.

The suspect, an Oxnard man, was held in lieu of $360,000 bail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - The driver of a vehicle that found itself embedded inside a 7-Eleven store Thanksgiving Day is accused of attempted murder after police said the driver intentionally crashed through the store.

The driver, who has not been identified publicly, allegedly caused a disturbance inside the 7-Eleven, 1003 S. Baldwin Ave., just before 7 a.m. November 24. The driver allegedly tossed merchandise at employees before leaving the business and entering his vehicle.

“Witnesses reported the subject accelerated towards the front doors where employees and customers were standing. The vehicle struck the front doors of the business and continued inside, where it came to rest. The driver attempted to flee but was detained by store employees and customers until officers arrived,” according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The driver, a Monrovia man, was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - No one was injured after a vehicle stopped well into a 7-Eleven early Thanksgiving Day.

The crash occurred at the 7-Eleven, 1003 S. Baldwin Ave., just after 7 a.m. The car went straight through the front doors and destroyed several shelves of items, going completely inside the convenience store.

City inspectors were called to survey the structure and determine the safety of the food within, according to the Arcadia Fire Department.

ARCADIA – One person was killed in a crash on the westbound 210 freeway at Baldwin Avenue Wednesday.

The HOV, No. 1 and 2 lanes of traffic remain closed during cleanup and an investigation, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The CHP responded to a report of a possible silver Saturn blacked out and stalled in the HOV lane. Sometime before 4:53 a.m., a collision occurred, according to CHP traffic logs.

At 5:09 a.m. all lanes were temporarily closed. By 5:12 a.m., the No. 4 lane and the right shoulder were opened to traffic.

LOS ANGELES – A Monrovia woman who was shot dead on the 210 freeway in Arcadia September 4 was identified recently.

Bertha Hernandez, 35, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Hernandez was driving a black Mercedes Benz east on the 210 freeway when the shooting occurred near Baldwin Avenue. CHP officers were called to a collision and found the car had crashed into a sound wall, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Hernandez was declared dead at the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The events leading up to the shooting are either unknown, or have yet to be publicly shared.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call California Highway Patrol Investigator Carlos Martinez at 323-353-8381.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - An L Line train bound for Los Angeles struck and wounded a pedestrian as the train approached the Arcadia Station late Sunday night.

The collision occurred near First Avenue and Santa Clara Street around 10:49 p.m. September 5. Officers responded to the scene, located the pedestrian and called for medical help. The pedestrian was taken to an area hospital, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The pedestrian’s current condition is not immediately known.

at 11:12 p.m., the Metropolitan Transportation Authority summoned shuttles for passengers as train service stopped between the Sierra Madre Villa Station and Monrovia Station.

At 7:22 a.m. Monday, Metro authorities announced train service resumed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ARCADIA - All eastbound lanes west of Baldwin Avenue on the 210 freeway in Acadia will be closed for at least eight hours after one person was found dead at the scene of a collision that was possibly tied to a freeway shooting, the California Highway Patrol said.

CHP responded to the scene at 9:05 a.m. September 4, according to Officer Peter Nicholson of the California Highway Patrol.

Nicholson has preliminary information on a possible suspect vehicle involved but is waiting from a investigators on scene to develop better information before publicly sharing a description of the vehicle involved.

All eastbound traffic is being diverted off at Michillinda Avenue.

Nicholson was unaware of other injuries involved in the crash. Whether the victim died from the crash or from possibly being shot is not immediately known.

 ARCADIA – A driver was killed, his passenger injured after a two-vehicle collision was caused by another driver suspect of being under the influence August 6.
 
The crash occurred around 10:50 p.m. at Las Tunas Drive and Baldwin Avenue. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena with serious injuries, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

The victim was only described as a man in his 60s. The coroner is awaiting notification of next of kin, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
 
A suspected drunk driver was eastbound on Las Tunas Drive when the driver lost control while traveling at high speed, crossed the raised median and slammed into the other vehicle head-on, according to the Arcadia Police Department.
 
The suspected DUI driver appeared uninjured. The driver was also taken to Huntington Memorial for evaluation, according to the Arcadia Police Department.

It is not yet publicly known if the suspect DUI driver has been arrested.