A small army of police officers monitored traffic and pulled over drivers on Bronson Avenue Wednesday. A woman was killed in a crosswalk by a semi-truck Tuesday while walking her 9-year-old daughter to school.
Marleni Edith Barrera and her daughter were in a crosswalk walking to Citizens of the World Charter School when they were hit by a semi-truck in front of the school. School officials say the mother heroically saved her daughter.
The accident was reported on the 1300 block of North Bronson Avenue at 7:48 a.m. The semi was traveling southbound on Bronson at the time of the crash. Authorities say the girl suffered minor injuries and was expected to be OK. The driver remained on scene to speak to police and was not cited.
Le Conte Middle School is also located on Bronson near the intersection with Fountain Avenue.
A lot of the traffic, residents say, is drivers looking for a shortcut to the nearby 101 Freeway. Some parents and residents say drivers are often going too fast in the area, even though it is a school zone. Before and after school, the intersection of North Bronson and Fountain avenues is jammed with students crossing the street and drivers waiting their turn at the three-way stop.
The Los Angeles Unified School District put in a request to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation for a crossing guard in January 2013 but never got a response. Parents are now upset that it took a tragedy for the need to be noticed.
The LADOT released a statement: "This location qualified for a crossing guard but one was not assigned due to limited resources. At this time, a police investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further."
The LAUSD said it has resubmitted the request for a crossing guard at the location.
Residents say a crossing guard and speed bumps are needed to help prevent accidents in the future.
