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Accident
Location and Time:
Santa Monica, Westbound on Arizona Avenue , Farmers Market (accident
path over more than two blocks from the intersection 4th. street, crossing
third and second street and coming to a halt before Ocean Avenue)
Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 1:47 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Driver:
86-year old resident of Santa Monica; not injured, was taken to hospital
for alcohol and drug testing (both negative); released from the Santa
Monica Police Department after questioning; described by neighbors as
caring and mentally sharp; was in possession of a valid Drivers License,
issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles two years ago (law
did not require a road test)
Car:
burgundy 1992 Buick LeSabre
Probable Cause:
The driver was heading eastbound on Arizona when he spotted the farmers
market (taking place at this spot every Wednesday) blocking his path at
the intersection of 4th. Street. Apparently he hit the gas pedal instead
the brakes and the vehicle accelerated dramatically. In his confusion
the driver seemed to have panicked stepping harder on the accelerator
in the mistaken notion that the brakes have failed.
Casualties:
10 fatalities (two infants 7 months and 3 years; eight adults between
35 and 78-years old; all from the Los Angeles area); 8 were pronounced
dead at the scene; 2 died later in the hospital
(including the seven-month-old baby)
Injuries:
more than 40
Update Thursday: 20 people remain hospitalized, 5 of them in critical
condition
Emergency Responders:
Santa Monica Fire Department >http://www.santamonicafire.org<
Santa Monica Police Department >http://www.santamonicapd.org<
American Medical Response (AMR)
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Receiving Hospitals:
UCLA Medical Center in Westwood
(13 patients, of them 6 critical, including 2 children)
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
County-USC Medical Center
Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center
The
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