A young mother and business owner was tragically killed in a vehicular accident in Vermont Square, Los Angeles, when an SUV driver lost control, hurling her against a building. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the gruesome scene at around 4:37 PM on Monday, according to a report by LAFD. The victim, identified as 33-year-old Lisbeth Estrada Rodriguez, was declared deceased on-site by firefighters after being trapped between the vehicle and the structure.
Per information from KTLA, LAPD detained the driver, 31-year-old Dwight Williams, accusing him of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Aerial footage from the aftermath displayed a somber scene, as law enforcement officials erected a canopy to respectfully shield the site and began to meticulously piece together the events that led up to the deadly crash.
"I've seen many of these," Los Angeles Police Detective Gerald Chavarria said in a statement seen by KTLA. "I believe she was instantly killed." The investigation noted a high impact suggesting the SUV was at a significant speed before the collision with Rodriguez, who was walking home at the time of the incident.
Neighbors spoke to KTLA’s John Fenoglio, remembering Rodriguez as a pillar in the community. "She was a great person, a hard-working mom, always walked her kids to school," neighbor Jeremy Gonzalez said. "Hopefully, someone will hear this and make a GoFundMe for her husband because I don’t know how he’s going to survive taking care of two kids, trying to work and run a business." The intersection of Normandie Avenue and 46th Street remained closed for an extended period while the cause of the accident was being determined by authorities.
Los Angeles City Building and Safety were notified to assess the level of damage sustained by the building. This fatal incident has cast a pall over the South Central community, as they mourn the loss of a beloved mother and local business owner.
