Motorcyclist killed, 12-year-old girl injured in Van Nuys crash involving Metro bus
The man died at the scene and the little girl was rushed to Valley Presbyterian Hospital in an unknown condition.
VAN NUYS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a Metro bus Friday afternoon in Van Nuys, and his passenger - a 12-year-old girl - was injured.
It happened around 11 a.m. near Bessemer Street and Hazeltine Avenue.
According to Metro, the bus was heading westbound on the G Line (Orange busway) at Hazeltine when it collided with the motorcyclist.
The man died at the scene and the little girl was rushed to Valley Presbyterian Hospital in an unknown condition. Surveillance footage obtained by ABC7 shows the moment of impact.
"I heard a loud noise, a bang," said Art Haserjian, the owner of Ruthless Cycles, a motorcycle repair shop located near where the crash occurred. "My mechanic ran up to me and said, 'What was that?'"
"We went outside and seen the girl laying there, we see a motorcycle in the corner and the guy, faced down. He wasn't breathing," described Haserjian.
Haserjian also recalled seeing the little girl getting treated.
"She was awake, and the ambulance pulled up and started cutting her pants to make sure her legs were not broken and put her in and took her away," he said.
Metro have since released a statement, saying it's "working closely with the Los Angeles Police Department to investigate this incident."
"Our deepest sympathies go out to them and their families during this time," said Metro spokesperson David Sotero at the scene. "It's a horrible accident, and we just pray that little girl is OK."
No other injuries were reported.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
