Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A stolen vehicle was recovered Friday and its driver was arrested after a destructive pursuit, police said.

Driver Jose Antonio Hernandez Fitoria sideswiped a semi while fleeing officers along the southbound 605 Freeway at Lower Azusa Road in the early morning hours of April 25. The driver crashed while exiting the freeway and try to run down the on-ramp, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers received a report of a stolen vehicle and attempted to stop Hernandez while he was driving in the area of Foothill Boulevard and Virginia Avenue just before 2:30 a.m.

The vehicle was reported stolen out of Anaheim, according to the Azusa Police Department.

It is not immediately clear if Hernandez, or anyone else, suffered injuries in the crash.

Hernandez was booked on suspicion of multiple charges, including vehicle theft, felony evading, and driving under the influence, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Hernandez is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court April 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle on a rain-slicked road Thursday evening.

The crash occurred on Arrow Highway near Armel Drive February 13. The pedestrian was taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center for treatment, according to Sgt. Johnson of the Azusa Police Department.

The pedestrian is in critical condition, Johnson told SGV CityWatch.

The driver remained at the scene. Arrow Highway remains closed between Azusa Avenue and Cerritos Avenue.

It is unclear what, if any, factors contributed to the crash. Although, this stretch of road is notorious for these crashes.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A dark-colored car, possibly a Honda Civic, was captured on surveillance camera speeding away from the scene of a fatal crash January 19.

The car was northbound on Irwindale Avenue in the No. 2 lane just before 10 p.m. when it struck a pedestrian who was in the crosswalk at Roosevelt Street. The pedestrian died at the scene and the vehicle left northbound without stopping, according to the Azusa police department.

​Avondale, Arizona man John Sigala, 61, was identified as the victim. He died of multiple blunt trauma, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Anyone with information on this fatal crash is urged to call Traffic Investigator K. McMath at 626-812-3200 reference case # 24-02201. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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

AZUSA - A man found seated in a crashed vehicle, suffering from a gunshot later died at a hospital, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

Azusa Police officers were called to a traffic collision in the 17700 block of East Newburgh Street just before 10 a.m. December 5. The unidentified victim, only described as being 18 to 25 years old, was found suffering at least one gunshot, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

KTLA 5 reporters discovered Facebook video from the man who was shot. He was on a livestream as he drove east on Newburgh Street. A single shot struck the man and his vehicle careened head on into a parked truck.

An initial report provided to the California Highway Patrol indicated that at least one or more of the vehicles involved in the crash had caught on fire. First responders began providing CPR to the man who was shot before he was transported to a local hospital.

Investigators believe that the shooting occurred near the intersection of East Newburgh Street and North Donna Beth Avenue, roughly one block west of where the crash occurred.

Either investigators do not know where the shot came from, or have not yet publicly revealed information leading to a suspect.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles county sheriffs homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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.