Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A full closure of the northbound 605 freeway just south of the I-10 freeway opened after fatal crash investigation Sunday morning.

First responders were called around 2 a.m., July 9 to a report of a sedan that overturned and landed on its roof. A motorcycle and possibly a black Mercedes-Benz were also involved in the crash, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

The California Highway Patrol stopped all northbound lanes south of Valley Boulevard and diverted traffic to the west I-10 freeway. By 2:21 a.m., a request for an evidence tow was made.

Two other people were hospitalized.

By 6:16 a.m. Caltrans ended the full closure and northbound traffic was free to move again, according to the California Highway Patrol.

It is not immediately clear what caused the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - The residents of a home escaped serious injury Thursday after an SUV, driven by a suspected drunk driver rolled and crashed into the front of the house.

The crash occurred in the 13700 block of East Ramona Boulevard Just after 7 a.m., Thursday, June 29. The crash also sheared a fire hydrant, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

According to Johnny Higuera, 56, who resides on the property, his mother was in the kitchen when the SUV struck and heavily damaged the house. His mother, 76-year-old Norma Rodriguez, was thrown several feet, but escaped serious injury.

Apparently, crashes are common at that intersection with Kenmore Avenue. Another home avoided damage after a vehicle crashed and stopped short of hitting the home.

Higuera and a few others had to help the driver out of the crashed SUV. The driver appeared drunk, Higuera told SGV CityWatch.

The driver was apparently arrested, but SGV CityWatch was unable to reach a Baldwin Park Police supervisor for further details on the arrest.

Higuera’s normal ritual is to take the dog out and have a smoke around the time the vehicle crashed, but he overslept Thursday morning and likely avoiding being seriously injured or killed.

“For one reason or another I didn’t do that this time for some reason. I was having a good old dream,” Higuera said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A semi hauling a 40,000-pound trailer overturned and possibly caused several vehicles to crash into it on the east I-10 freeway just east of the 605 freeway.

The California Highway Patrol is holding all lanes of the eastbound side while firefighters work to treat patients, two of which were pulled after being trapped in a vehicle. The northbound 605 transition to the east I-10 is also being held.

All eastbound traffic is being diverted to the south 605, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash was first reported at 4:46 a.m.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - One person was killed and another person was hospitalized after a vehicle struck a tree Monday afternoon.

The crash occurred in the area of Ramona Boulevard and Kenmore Avenue around 2:46 p.m. Monday, March 6. One person was transported to a trauma center, according to Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A white sedan struck a tree near Ramona Boulevard and Kenmore Avenue.

The victim, who died at the scene was described as being 16 years old, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

All traffic lanes of Ramona Boulevard from Merced Avenue to Monterey Avenue are expected to be closed for a few more hours during the investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Traffic is moving once again after investigators closed lanes of the I-10 freeway near Francisquito Avenue Saturday morning after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle.

The pedestrian was killed on the eastbound I-10 freeway just west of Francisquito Avenue.

CHP officers were first called to a report of a body in lanes at 4:39 a.m., according to Officer Moises Marroquín of the California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center.

Initial reports provided to the California Highway Patrol indicated the pedestrian was walking casually across traffic lanes. The pedestrian was found dead in the slow lane.

CHP officers briefly closed all eastbound lanes around 5:02 a.m. near the scene to establish a flare pattern. The HOV and No. 1 lanes of the eastbound I-10 freeway were soon opened to traffic.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Driver error likely led to an injury crash between two vehicles Friday evening.

One vehicle attempted a left-hand turn from northbound Downing Avenue to westbound Ramona Boulevard when it was struck by a vehicle east on Ramona just after 6 p.m. May 6, according to a preliminary investigation by the Baldwin Park Police Department.

One of the vehicles rolled over and the driver was ejected.

“Additionally, debris from the traffic collision struck an oncoming Foothill Transit bus. No injuries were sustained to the bus driver and passengers,” according to the Baldwin Park Police Department in a written statement.

Video from the scene showed a thoroughly-cracked windshield on the Foothill Transit bus.

Debris from the violent collision was strewn across westbound and eastbound lanes of Ramona Boulevard on both sides of railroad tracks, forcing the delay of several Metrolink trains until the scene could be cleaned enough for train traffic to move through.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - A woman died at the scene Wednesday night after a vehicle slammed into a tree, the Baldwin Park Police Department said.

The collision occurred on Badillo Street at Puente Avenue around 10:36 p.m. March 30. The Acura TSX was being driven eastbound when it somehow struck a tree in the center median of Badillo, according to Sgt. Esteban Manjarrez of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

It is not yet publicly clear of what led up to the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK – The 85-year-old woman struck and killed by a motorcyclist March 24 in a crosswalk was identified recently.

Zifeng Lu was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She died from blunt force trauma. The death was ruled accidental.

Drugs and alcohol appeared to not play a factor in the crash, which occurred around 6:28 a.m. at Pacific Avenue and Puente Avenue. The rider, a West Covina man in his mid-60s, was westbound when he struck Lu, according to Sgt. David Leon of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

Lu died at the scene. She was originally identified as 86 years old.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK – Drugs and alcohol appeared to not play a factor in a crash that killed a pedestrian and briefly sent a motorcyclist to the hospital Thursday.

The crash occurred around 6:28 a.m. March 24 at Pacific Avenue and Puente Avenue. The rider, a West Covina man in his mid-60s, was westbound when he struck the 86-year-old woman while she was in a crosswalk, according to Sgt. David Leon of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The woman died at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BALDWIN PARK - Two suspected gang members sought in connection with a Monrovia robbery were jailed last week after fleeing from Baldwin Park police.

Officers with the department’s Gang Activity Prevention unit attempted a traffic stop March 18 in the 3700 block of Baldwin Park Boulevard around 5 p.m. A passenger in the vehicle fled on foot, box in hand, and the driver sped away, according to the Baldwin Park Police Department.

The passenger who fled on foot, 20-year-old Alfonso Maya, was caught and found in possession of two firearms. The brief vehicle pursuit ended in a solo crash at Live Oak Avenue and Baldwin Park Boulevard when the suspect struck a traffic light, according to Sgt. Mike Hemenway of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

​A gun clip and ammunition were reportedly recovered from the crashed vehicle.

The driver, 20-year-old Izaac Velasco, and another passenger were taken to County/USC Medical Center for treatment.

Velasco was eventually taken into custody and booked on suspicion of felony evading causing injury and evading in opposing lanes of traffic, Hemenway told SGV CityWatch.

Maya was booked on suspicion of felony possession of a firearm, Hemenway told SGV CityWatch.

Maya is being held without bail at the Men’s Central Jail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Rio Hondo Municipal Court March 22.

Velasco apparently remains hospitalized. His bail is set at $75,000, according to Los Angeles County booking records.