Southern California - Los Angeles Cyclist Hit-and-Run, Police Do Nothing

SYNOPSIS: According to the statement of witnesses, a driver intentionally hit Jen Diamond, my girlfriend, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Los Angeles Police still haven't done anything about it. Jen is a former bike messenger, Bikesummer organizer, and AIDS-Ride participant.

Please repost. This isn't about raising some nebulous concept like "cycling awareness," this is about making government fulfill its obligations to citizens. We live in Los Angeles Council District 13, where the incident took place. Call Councilman Eric Garcetti's field office and ask why the police haven't done anything: (323) 957-4500 LAPD case number 061125924

I can be reached by pager at (800) 310-4063, or email public@bikeboom.com

Full story, photos, video (http://bikeboom.com/jen/jen_ambulance_web.mov), and comments on my livejournal (http://alrs.livejournal.com/44975.html)

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend. Wish her a speedy recovery.

Do you have an LBS you frequent? Perhaps it's worth having them involved. Get the owners to call a press conference. We have had a fair amount of these kinds of incidents lately and the media might look at this as a story of interest.

Contact also the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition: http://www.labikecoalition.org/
See also this page: http://www.labikecoalition.org/letters/ilia.html

See if they can point you to good resources.

Sheldon

Wow...that is just so very sad.
I am so sorry :(

That's so sad and crazy :( If you have the license plate can you do some detective work, find out the car, take pictures of any damage, etc...?

Hoping for a speedy recovery!

I am good friends with Lars (bikeboom) and Jen and have ridden many, many miles with them. They are careful, law-abiding, and skilled street-savvy riders who depend on their bikes for much of their transportation in/around LA. I don't doubt the eye-witness account that suggests the incident was an intentional hit/run and it would be tragic if the perpetrator goes free. Please help, if you can.

I hope the police do their job and find who's responsible. Best wishes to the both of you.

I am good friends with Lars (bikeboom) and Jen and have ridden many, many miles with them. They are careful, law-abiding, and skilled street-savvy riders who depend on their bikes for much of their transportation in/around LA. I don't doubt the eye-witness account that suggests the incident was an intentional hit/run and it would be tragic if the perpetrator goes free. Please help, if you can.

I hope that Jen recovers quickly and completely and that this person gets identified.

I know Lars as well and can vouch for his abilities on a bike. I just made the call to the Councilman's office, they said that they will call me back with an update.

Wow that’s outrageous! The plate # and an eye witness, what more do they need??

I sent an email to garcetti@council.lacity.org about this. Maybe we can flood his office with calls and emails.

Hope they catch these bastards. This happened less than a mile away from my house.

Really awful. Best wishes to Jen for a full and speedy recovery.

this just makes me sick to my stomach..... how can they NOT do something! DISGUSTING!

tell your girlfriend we are all thinking about her and wishing her fast healing!

Just received a call from the Councilman's office and they are going to post onto Lars' blog to give a status update. It seems that the police have been reasonably prodded into action.

I believe that Lars is still at the hospital with Jen.

Sorry to hear about the accident and wish your GF a speedy recovery.

We are thinking of you Jen!!!

Just received a call from the Councilman's office and they are going to post onto Lars' blog to give a status update. It seems that the police have been reasonably prodded into action.

I believe that Lars is still at the hospital with Jen.

That's pretty cool of you.

I've also ridden enough miles with Lars to vouch for chimivee's and Extort's comments. Glad to see there appears to be some police action now.

This is incredible and reminds me of an incident a few year ago that involved a friend. It seems that many police officers view cyclists with less regard than others on the road. It's almost as if they think that if you are on the road and get hurt it's just part of the risk that you consciously took, regardless of the circumstances.

I hope that Jen recovers quickly and completely and I hope that this "accident" doesn't dampen her enthusiasm for cycling.

This reminds me of the terrible tragedy a year ago
when Sydney(JIM) got killed.
People who talk on cell phones and drive SUCK!!
Jen, our prayers go out to you for a fast recovery!

Stuff like this is pretty scary, and the police response is really disappointing. Despite how it sometimes feels, most drivers really do try not to hit cyclists, but to see the damage on the bike in the picture that's a pretty direct rear-end hit-- for them to write it off as a regular traffic accident is nuts, especially with witnesses.

I checked the livejournal page and it sounds like enough people have contacted Garcetti's office that they've gotten the attention of the police.

I just watched the video. :( I am so sorry! I wish her a speedy recovery.

When police or the DA do little to investigate such potential crimes; is when cycling advocacy groups need hit the streets and invade the appropriate officials offices.

This is sad. I'm glad she's alive though. We lost a cyclist in Tucson this weekend. Pickup driver was cited for driving in a bike lane. Cyclist is dead.

I'm so sorry to hear about your girlfriend. I'm glad you have some information to go on. Please keep us updated on her condition-- either here or on your blog.

This is sad. I'm glad she's alive though. We lost a cyclist in Tucson this weekend. Pickup driver was cited for driving in a bike lane. Cyclist is dead.
the driver was only "cited"??? that guy should be charged for vehicular man slaughter.

Just an update, after talking with Lars earlier today:

After posting the story to various internet groups and forums yesterday, Coucilman Garcetti received numerous phone calls, urging them to take action. Later the same day, the LAPD launched an investigation, which is actively under way. Jen is okay, but has a long recovery ahead. They are grateful to a community that helped. Jen says ouch/thanks (http://jendiamond.livejournal.com/8287.html)

Good to hear an investigation has been put in to action and that she is okay. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Use the LA media to get LAPD's attention. NBC4tv as well as the others feature investigations, etc. Here is the email address for one of their investigators: Ana.Garcia@nbcuni.com. In LA, it just takes one story to make the difference.

Sorry to hear about your girl friend.

got this reply email

"Hi Redden,
Councilmember Garcetti asked me to respond to your email on his behalf as I have been closely monitoring this case since it came to our attention on Tuesday. As you may know by now, the LAPD has launched an investigation aided by witness reports of the license plate number and a description of the suspect. It is classified as a felony hit and run for now. Detective Padilla is the lead detective on the case and Senior Lead Officer Polehonki is available to answer any questions, attend community meetings, etc. Polehonki can be reached at (213) 793-0763.

I sent an update to Lars's live journal (jen's boyfriend) on Tuesday afternoon. I have also spoken to Lars and have made this office available to Jen and the cycling community to be helpful in whatever way we are needed.

Feel free to call or email me to discuss further. Thanks.

Shane Murphy Goldsmith
District Director & Director of Community Development Office of City Council President Eric Garcetti 5500 Hollywood Boulevard, Zip 90028 Phone 323/957-4500 www.cd13.com "

Um, yeah yeah,

They've got a plate #, what else is necessary? Bust these jack azzzzzzes.