Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - No one was injured and no buildings were damaged after a spot fire ignited in Irwindale Monday morning.
 
Firefighters located a 50-foot by 50-foot vegetation fire in the 2300 block of Buena Vista Street after being dispatched around 7:17 a.m. Firefighters checked at least two different locations of where the fire may have originated from after observing black smoke in the area before finding the source, according to a representative with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
Firefighters got a handle on the flames and left the scene around 9 a.m.
 
The cause is under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Police detectives identified through grainy video a tow truck driver who likely accidentally ran over a sleeping transient on Peck Road October 3.

Detectives identified the tow truck company, tracked down the driver and spoke to him regarding the collision. Detectives believe the driver had no idea the collision occurred, said Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

“Apparently, the deceased wasn’t actually a pedestrian. He was a transient ... and was sleeping in the entrance driveway and when the tow truck pulled in it drove over him and that’s what killed him,” Gatto said.

The driver told detectives didn’t even know the man was sleeping there, Gatto said.

Oscar Alfonso Sapien, 43, died from blunt force injuries. The death was ruled accidental, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

No charges are being recommended by Irwindale Police detectives or the Irwindale Police accident investigator.

Sapien’s body was discovered near the entrance of a fueling station near 5640 Peck Road.
 
A customer found Sapien near the entrance to the unmanned clean energy gas station. The customer called 9-1-1 around 6:11 a.m.

The collision occurred roughly 10 to 15 minutes before police were called, Gatto said.

The case will be reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, but no charges are anticipated, Gatto said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A small brush fire has been stopped after scorching three acres near the 605 freeway.

Firefighters and a helicopter were dispatched to the San Gabriel River west of the 605 freeway and Arrow Highway around 4:16 p.m. No structures were threatened, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Irwindale Police.

The fire's cause is under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - An El Monte man was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Arrow Highway Tuesday night.
 
The man was hit on westbound Arrow Highway east of Maine Avenue at 8:50 p.m. The pedestrian was reportedly not in a marked crosswalk when hit, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.
 
The victim, identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner as 32-year-old Kevin Daniel Martinez Ruiz of El Monte, died at the scene.
 
Los Angeles County Fire paramedics made the pronouncement, Gatto said.
 
The driver remained at the scene. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.
 
Any witnesses to the collision are asked to come forward and provide details on the crash by calling Detective Cpl. Armando Lopez at 626-460-2290. Lopez can be emailed at [email protected].

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A semi and possibly a box truck collided on the eastbound 210 freeway east of Irwindale Avenue Wednesday afternoon.
 
A Sig Alert was issued for two hours for the HOV, No. 1, 3 and 4 lanes of traffic. A semi hauling a trailer of garbage collided with what was described as a box truck just before 1:30 p.m. The box truck reportedly overturned, according to the California Highway Patrol.
 
Crews are on scene to upright the box truck and tow away the trailer from the heavily damaged semi.
 
The Los Angeles County Fire Department requested a helicopter to transport an unknown number of patients, but a ground ambulance has been summoned instead.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A motorcyclist was arrested in Azusa Saturday night after refusing to stop for officers, Irwindale Police said.
 
Ezequiel Quintana, 22, was taken into custody without incident in the 5300 block of Roxburgh in unincorporated Azusa October 6 after ending the pursuit, according to Sgt. Arias of the Irwindale Police Department.
 
Quintana was originally wanted for an equipment violation and officers attempted a traffic stop on Ornelas Street between Irwindale Avenue and Ayon at 8:43 p.m., Arias said.
 
The rider refused to stop and led police on a brief chase through surface streets until he stopped for Irwindale officers.
 
Quintana was booked on felony reckless evading officers and for improper licensing.
 
He is scheduled to appear in Citrus Municipal Court in West Covina today, October 10.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - The body of a middle-aged man was discovered near the entrance of a fueling station along Peck Road early Wednesday.
 
The man, only described in his 30s to 40s, was found unresponsive by a customer near the entrance to an unmanned clean energy gas station near 5640 Peck Road. The customer called 9-1-1 around 6:11 a.m., according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.
 
Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived with Irwindale Police. Firefighters declared the man dead at the scene.
 
There are signs of injury on the body, Gatto said, but it is unclear if those injuries are what led to the man’s death.
 
Detectives are determining if a nearby surveillance camera recorded the collision.
 
There are no signs of foul play discovered yet in the man’s death.
 
Northbound Peck Road remains closed, while southbound traffic is open. Foothill Transit service on the 270 line is also interrupted and will bypass the Peck Road stops at Peck and Hemlock, Peck and Clark, Peck and Foothill Transit DrPlease use instead a stop on Peck just after Live Oak.
 
Irwindale’s unknown circumstances death investigation is being assisted by detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
 
If signs of foul play are found, Sheriff’s Homicide will take over the investigation.
 
Anyone with information on this death is urged to call the Irwindale Police Detective Bureau at 626-430-2245.