LASD Employee Identified As One of the Victims Killed In North Hollywood Box Truck Collision
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (June 18, 2025) – Two people have tragically died in a North Hollywood box truck accident on the westbound lanes of the 101 freeway near North Tujunga Avenue.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:20 AM on Tuesday. A black Kia compact SUV was stopped in lanes of traffic for unknown reasons.
A female passenger and a male driver exited the vehicle. Both the pedestrians and the Kia were struck by a box truck.
Paramedics were called to the scene to help the victims. Sadly, both occupants of the Kia were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the victims was later identified as an employee of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Westbound lanes of the freeway were closed for some time as authorities investigated the crash.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for North Hollywood Truck Accidents
Car accidents remain a leading source of preventable injury and death. Many of these crashes involve commercial trucks. According to the UCI Institute of Transportation Studies, “In California, despite representing only 2.5% of the vehicle population and 5.6% of vehicle miles traveled, large trucks accounted for 9.1% of fatal crashes in 2020, causing 372 deaths and 8,350 injuries. Existing studies on truck crashes in California are outdated or limited in scope.” Trucks can be particularly dangerous for many reasons.
- Commercial trucks have much longer stopping distances than other vehicles.
- Commercial trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of vehicles next to them.
- Commercial trucks are much more difficult to maneuver than passenger vehicles, even in the best of circumstances.
All truck drivers must use an abundance of caution in order to avoid causing any collision. A large portion of truck accidents involve truck drivers that are traveling too fast. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable and prudent given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane of traffic.
It is possible that liability for any truck accident could extend beyond the drivers at the scene. Box trucks are routinely used for commercial purposes. If this is the case, the company that owned or operated the box truck could be vicariously liable for the actions of their driver. It is a well-established principle that employers are responsible for the wrongful actions of their workers operating within the course of their job duties. This may include instances where a truck driver was transporting goods. Several steps should be taken after any truck accident.
- The police should be called to the scene so that they can begin investigating the crash.
- The logbook of the truck driver should be reviewed.
- The actions of the truck driver leading up to the collision should be understood.
- The safety record of the truck company involved should be investigated.
Truck accidents are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where truck drivers are failing to properly scan the road ahead of them for hazards. This can be particularly difficult at night and during periods of low visibility. For that reason, it is typically prudent for truck drivers to slow down below the stated speed limit during these conditions. The family of any person killed in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Semi-Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two people killed in this North Hollywood truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. Many questions remain unanswered. Was the truck driver involved in this crash speeding? Were they potentially distracted?Do you need more information about a North Hollywood box truck accident? Our team of California truck accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that negligent truck drivers are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we may be able to assist you. You are always welcome to reach out to our office anytime at 949-727-9300.
