Author: pinnaclellp

A multi-vehicle collision that occurred on the 91 Freeway in Buena Park, California, on Friday morning resulted in at least three fatalities, as confirmed by local authorities. The crash was reported just before 4 a.m. on the eastbound lanes of the 91 near Valley View Street.

As per the reports available at 7:30 a.m., the cause of the crash was still undetermined, and the exact number of vehicles involved was not specified. Witnesses accounts and traffic camera footage suggest the inclusion of a semi-truck among the involved vehicles.

The impact of the collision led to a temporary closure of all but one lane of the eastbound side of the 91, as the officers progressed with their investigations at the crash scene. Commuters were recommended by the authorities to explore alternate routes to avoid the traffic congestion in the affected area.

Additional information about the incident, including the identities of the deceased or additional potential victims, was not immediately disclosed by the authorities.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

A hit-and-run incident resulting in the death of a pedestrian was reported in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The crime occurred on January 29, just before 9 p.m. The victim, identified only as a male, was crossing Venice Boulevard near St. Andrews Place using a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle. The latter was traveling westbound at the time of the accident, as reported by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The impact of the collision was so violent that the victims body was pulled under the vehicle. The vehicle dragged the victim until the next street, dislodged him and then sped off, leaving the victim on the road. Paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital where despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a description of the suspects vehicle, identified as a light-colored SUV or crossover vehicle. They refrained from providing a physical description of the suspect.

The LAPD reminded motorists that they should immediately stop and notify emergency services in the event of a collision, stay at the scene to identify themselves and urged pedestrians to use crosswalks and display caution on roadways.

The department has offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, apprehension, and conviction of the suspect. Investigators encourage anyone with information to contact the West Traffic Detectives at 213-473-0234 or the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Firefighters in Los Angeles, California were unable to assist during the Palisades and Eaton fires due to an abundance of unserviced vehicles, according to a report by KTLA. At the Los Angeles Fire Departments largest maintenance yard in Lincoln Heights, numerous emergency vehicles remained unserviced.

Freddy Escobar, the President of the LAFD union, stated that the department lacks sufficient funding to hire adequate mechanics or purchase parts to service the fire engines, trucks, and ambulances. This shortage of resources has resulted in crews being unable to participate in firefighting efforts, despite being available.

Escobar noted that additional equipment could have significantly assisted in combating the wildfires. He further added, insufficient transport options were available for the firefighters, restricting the number of personnel operating in the field.

The unserviced vehicles also drew the attention of L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park, who expressed frustration over the number of idle resources. Park highlighted how the lack of available equipment not only impacts firefighting efforts but the broader safety of the city. The councilmember blamed the situation on years of neglect and underfunding of the LAFD. In response, Park echoed Escobars sentiment for appropriate funding and pledged support for a bond measure to assist in financing the necessary resources.

LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley also identified budget cuts as a significant contributor to the departments response issues. She indicated that while additional vehicles might not have prevented the fires, they could have assisted in protecting homes within the city.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

During the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, California, several firefighters were inhibited from lending their assistance on the front lines. The reason, as disclosed by California Highway Patrol (CHP) and KTLA news, was due to a large number of unserviced vehicles.

Annie Rose Ramos, a KTLA reporter, was allowed inside the Los Angeles Fire Departments (LAFD) largest maintenance yard located in Lincoln Heights. Here she observed numerous emergency vehicles that had not undergone necessary upkeep. LAFD union President Freddy Escobar explained that the fire department has been facing a fund crunch, not having enough mechanics or finances for the parts to repair the engines, trucks, and ambulances.

According to Escobar, the lack of well-maintained equipment impeded response to the wildfires. Several responders who reported for duty had to stay behind due to a scarcity of transport to the fire location.

Traci Park, an LA city council member, voiced her frustration over the sight of unused emergency vehicles, emphasizing the potential implications of these assets being out of service. The issue was attributed to budget constraints by LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, who mentioned that although the extra vehicles may not have put down the fires, their availability could have helped save homes.

Both Escobar and Park stressed the need for action from city officials and Mayor Karen Bass to find solutions to the lack of adequate service and resources within LAFD. Park, for one, was lending her support to a recent bond measure, which could potentially raise funds for the necessary work.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

During the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in California, a significant number of firefighters were unable to assist on the front lines due to an abundance of unserviced vehicles at the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), according to official sources. The maintenance issue was brought to light following a rare inside look into the LAFDs largest maintenance yard in Lincoln Heights, granted to KTLAs Annie Rose Ramos.

Freddie Escobar, LAFDunion President, stated that the unserviced emergency vehicles in the yard were the result of a lack of funding for mechanics and spare parts needed for engine repair of trucks and ambulances. This vehicle shortage ultimately resulted not only in a lack of equipment needed for the massive wildfires but also in firefighters being unable to travel to the front lines, despite reporting for duty at the scene of the fires.

A visit from L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park affirmed the frustrations surrounding the unserviced vehicles. Park noted the vast impact of having these emergency resources out of service, stating it affects large parts of Los Angeles, reducing the resources available to keep the city safe. LAFD Chief, Kristin Crowley, attributed some of these problems to budget cuts, suggesting that while these extra vehicles may not have stopped the fires, they could have potentially helped save homes.

Both Escobar and Park highlighted the need for action. Park stated her support for a recent bond measure that could provide some funding, but also emphasized the need for more innovative solutions. Escobar stressed that the neglect of the LAFD must be addressed by city officials and Mayor Karen Bass.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

On February 1, 2025, the Irvine Police Department was alerted about a stolen Volkswagen Beetle. The vehicle owner, who had left their Apple AirPods inside, reported the theft. Using the AirPods built-in location-tracking capabilities, the victim was able to monitor the movement of the stolen vehicle in real-time.

The suspects, named as Steve Vorrath, 30, from Georgetown, Texas, and Marcel George Urban, 34, from Corpus Christi, Texas, were unaware that the stolen vehicle was being tracked. The AirPods signal ultimately led the police to the University Park Center shopping plaza, located near Michelson and Culver Drives in Irvine, California, where the stolen vehicle was spotted with the suspects inside.

Prior to the arrest, the police recorded bodycam footage that showed officers approaching the suspects near an outdoor dining area at the shopping plaza. Subsequently, Vorrath and Urban were apprehended, escorted out of the car, and taken into custody.

Following the arrest, both Vorrath and Urban were transported to the Orange County Jail. They will face charges relating to possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy to commit a crime, among others, in accordance with the laws of the state of California. The ability to track stolen property, such as in this case involving Apple AirPods, represents an evolving aspect of law enforcements toolkit to apprehend and charge criminal suspects.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

A documented Los Angeles gang member, identified as Jalen Amir Yoakum, 24, of Lancaster, was charged with multiple offenses on Monday following a burglary that escalated into a high-speed chase ending with a violent crash in Camarillo. This information came from the Ventura County District Attorneys Office. The series of events were said to have transpired on January 24.

The incident reportedly began when Yoakum was caught stealing merchandise from a Target store in Camarillo. Ventura County Sheriffs deputies were alerted to the theft, and upon review of the surveillance footage, Yoakum was seen allegedly concealing unidentified merchandise and leaving the store without payment. Security personnel attempted to confront Yoakum, however, he fled the scene.

When Yoakum was located in a nearby area by detectives, he allegedly tried to escape by ramming his vehicle into an undercover law enforcement vehicle, resulting in a chase. This high-speed pursuit ended when he reportedly crashed into two vehicles on Santa Rosa Road. The impact of the crash resulted in one of the vehicles flipping over, causing serious injury to its driver, and injuring three other passengers. Yoakum still sought to evade arrest and fled on foot but was later apprehended.

Following his apprehension, a loaded firearm with an extended magazine was recovered, which authorities believe Yoakum discarded during the chase. The press release also revealed that Yoakum had outstanding warrants in Los Angeles County for various crimes including robbery, illegal possession of a weapon, and a probation violation. Currently, he is facing six felony charges including evading police, causing injury, reckless driving, multiple firearm offenses and two misdemeanor hit-and-run charges. Yoakum, who pleaded not guilty to the charges on January 30, is due to appear in court again on February 10. As of now, he is being held at the Ventura County Jail on $2 million bail.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.

On February 3, 2025, a significant incident disrupted the morning commute in East Los Angeles. A crash involving an egg delivery truck occurred on the southbound 5 Freeway around 5:30 a.m. During the incident, the trailer part of the truck clipped the overpass located just south of the East L.A. interchange near Indiana Street. The result of this accident left both eggs and debris spread across the freeway, necessitating a complete closure of almost all the southbound lanes.

The truck involved in the accident, a large rig vehicle, was reportedly from a company named Good Eggs. Damage to the truck was extensive, with parts of the big rig seen completely peeled apart. As a result, a SigAlert, used by the California Highway Patrol to alert the public about traffic incidents, was issued as crews worked to clear the wreckage.

At the time of the alert, four lanes were shut down, with some traffic managing to get by in a single lane as of 6:45 a.m. The closure was predicted to remain in place until approximately 9:45 a.m. Consequently, significant traffic disruptions were observed, with the southbound side congested up to the 110 Freeway. There was also buildup on the northbound side, attributed to onlookers.

The California Highway Patrol announced around 9:30 a.m. that the closure was still effective. The incident caused considerable inconvenience for commuters traversing through the area, and efforts for clearing up the debris are ongoing. Further updates on the situation will be reported as the story develops.

From fender benders to freeway pileups, Pinnacle LLP has California covered. Contact us today for a free consultation.