Supervisors Approve Traffic Signal at Site Where Boy Was Struck By Car

Los Angeles, CA — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to approve and expedite a new traffic signal at the East Whittier intersection where a boy was struck by a car on his way home from school last Thursday. Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents the unincorporated community of East Whitter, offered the motion in response to last week’s accident and it was approved with unanimous support.

“It is our duty to protect the children in our community and I worry that this intersection is particularly dangerous for the hundreds of school children that cross it every day to get to and from school,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Since the accident last Thursday, members of the East Whittier community have reached out to my office to express concern about this intersection. I have instructed the County to work as quickly as possible to install the signal to prevent any more children from being injured.”

On Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 3:14 pm a driver failed to stop at a crosswalk between Candlelight and First Avenue in East Whittier and struck a seven-year-old boy as he walked home from school. After paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital, the boy was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he was treated for extensive injuries.

Supervisor Janice Hahn first called for the swift installation of a traffic signal on Friday after discussing the dangerous intersection with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Additionally, upon Supervisor Hahn’s request the California Highway Patrol will increase their presence in the area during school days to prevent and prosecute reckless driving.