Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A male was found dead in traffic lanes on Irwindale Avenue Friday night, the victim of an apparent hit and run.

Multiple callers reported the victim to first responders, who were sent to Irwindale Avenue and Jackson Street just before 10 p.m. January 19. The victim was only described as a 61|year-old male, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The vehicle, only described as a compact with possible Major front end and windshield damage, was last seen northbound on Irwindale Avenue.

Anyone who can identify the vehicle and driver is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - All three men killed in a horrific crash involving speeding motorcycles were identified recently.

Motorcyclists Brandon Mendoza, 31, and Gabriel Abarca, 23, Where are identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. Both men died of blunt trauma injuries. Bystander Marcos Loera, 22, died of blunt head trauma.

The deadly crash was dispatched just after 4 p.m. Wednesday, October 4.

Authorities reported that two motorcycles were traveling eastbound on Arrow Highway at high speed when the crash occurred in the intersection at Cerritos Avenue.

Four other vehicles were struck by the motorcycles. The collision ejected both riders. One rider died at the scene in the intersection. The other was thrown roughly 100 feet eastbound onto a sidewalk and later died at a trauma center. One of the motorcycles went airborne and struck Loera who was with a girlfriend standing on a sidewalk.

Loera died at the scene. As authorities continued to set up the crime scene in the minutes after in the crash, a woman beside herself with grief was seen embracing Loera’s body on a patch of grass. A mangled motorcycle sat twisted nearly one hundred feet ahead of them.

Pieces of the second motorcycle involved landed at a nearby 76 gas station.

Investigators with the Azusa Police Department believe that both motorcycle riders were traveling around 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two people died at the scene of a collision involving two motorcycles in Azusa Wednesday afternoon.

The intersection of Arrow Highway and Cerritos Avenue will be closed for many hours for an investigation, according to Lt. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department.

First responders were sent to the crash at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday, October 4.

A third victim is being treated at a trauma center and is said to be in grave condition, Bushey told SGV CityWatch.

Multiple other vehicles were involved in the crash, including two pickup trucks, an SUV and minivan. Debris from the motorcycles spread into a nearby 76 gas station. One of the motorcycles struck a newly-planted tree on eastbound Arrow Highway roughly 100 feet away.

A the other involved motorists remained at the scene.

Road blocks have been set up around a wide area on both Cerritos and Arrow Highway.

It is best to avoid the intersection east and west between Azusa Avenue and Citrus Avenue and north and south from Gladstone Street to Nubia.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - One person is dead after reportedly intentionally crashing a car about 300 feet down into the Azusa canyon Thursday.

Just after 1 p.m., officers were called to check on the welfare of a driver by family members concerned for his mental health September 7. Officers were provided a description of the person and the vehicle being driven, which was located in North on Azusa Avenue in the city’s downtown area. The driver refused to stop and a slow-speed pursuit began, according to Lt. Jake Bushey of the Azusa Police Department.

“Approximately a mile up from the entrance of the canyon the vehicle intentionally went over the side and went down a 300-foot embankment,” Bushey said during a press conference.

First responders went down to check on the status of the driver and found the driver deceased, Bushey said.

The drivers name has not yet been released.

​Northbound traffic remains partially closed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
​CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A driver from Colton was arrested Thursday after crashing a vehicle that narrowly missed a man watering a lawn on Sierra Madre Avenue.

The vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed blew past a stop sign at North Dalton Avenue and Sierra Madre Avenue, struck a curb, two parked vehicles and ultimately came to rest after destroying a backyard fence.

First responders were called to the crash at 7:20 p.m. Thursday, August 10. The driver and two passengers of the crashed vehicle fled, but were all found. The driver was arrested and cited in the field for misdemeanor hit and run, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Security camera video showed the resident’s fancy footwork dodging the collision and flying debris until the car came to a rest on the front lawn.

Jan’s Towing was called to lift the car off the property.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 5:28 p.m.: The roadway has re-opened, according to the Azusa Police Department.

​MOUNTAINS - A portion of San Gabriel Canyon Road remains closed Thanksgiving Day as investigators continue to piece together details of a fatal motorcycle crash.

The crash occurred near 2025 North San Gabriel Canyon Road around 10:30 a.m. November 24.

Numerous callers reported the crash. The male adult who crashed died at the scene. Initially, this is believed to be a solo collision. The cause for the crash is still being investigated, according to Lt. Jorge Sandoval of the Azusa Police Department.

The road was closed from the southern bridge at Mountain Laurel Way to the northern bridge, Sandoval told SGV CityWatch.

Caltrans is assisting with the closure. Residents with identification are allowed in.

A CHP closure originally spanned further up to East Fork Road for separate reasons.

AZUSA – Four police departments worked to put a dent into a persistent problem with speeding drivers and motorcyclists in the Azusa canyons Saturday.
 
An enforcement detail netted 67 citations from 76 traffic stops July 16. Citations were written for speeding and other vehicle code violations. One person was arrested for a DUI warrant, according to the Azusa Police Department.
 
Three vehicles were impounded during the Primary Collision Factor enforcement detail.
 
The enforcement detail was conducted by the Azusa, Baldwin Park, Irwindale and Pasadena police departments with funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety. 

AZUSA - One driver involved in a major collision between two vehicles died at the scene early Sunday.

The crash occurred around 2:36 a.m. in the intersection of Arrow Highway and Cerritos Avenue December 19. The driver and passengers of the second vehicle were taken to various hospitals, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The cause of the crash is not publicly clear.

Firefighters summoned four ambulances to the scene, according to Cpt. Norman Queen of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Arrow Highway at Cerritos Avenue remains closed during the investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Investigators could not determine if intoxicated driving contributed to a fatal motorcycle crash Wednesday night.

The rider was ejected from his motorcycle after crashing into multiple parked vehicles in the 900 block of West Sierra Madre Avenue October 27.

The crash occurred around 6:52 p.m.

The unidentified rider was declared dead at the scene, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Anyone with information on this crash is urged to speak with the Azusa Police Department by calling 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A joint operation between the Azusa Police Department, Irwindale Police Department and California Highway Patrol yielded nearly 100 citations all in an effort to curb dangerous speeding in the canyon area.

The enforcement operation, organized by the Azusa Police Department traffic division, ended the day March 7 with 107 traffic stops for various vehicle code violations, Including speeding and equipment violations. 97 citations were issued and two vehicles were impounded, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The unfortunate operation came as a result from numerous community complaints of speeding vehicles and motorcycles within the city racing to and from the canyon area, Azusa police said.

“The Azusa Police Department Traffic Division continues to work diligently in addressing traffic violations within the city of Azusa. More traffic operations to come with funding from a grant by the Office of Traffic Safety & NHTSA,” according to the Azusa Police Department.