A 73-year-old man was hospitalized following an unusual incident on Wednesday afternoon, where a Metro bus collided with a light pole in Lake View Terrace, subsequently causing it to fall over. Details released from the CBS Los Angeles report indicated that the accident occurred around 2:40 p.m. near the 12200 block of W. Van Nuys Boulevard. Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene, noting that the Metro bus, which was not carrying any passengers at the time, had veered into a power pole for reasons that were not immediately apparent.
The collision resulted in both the pole and a nearby tree falling, striking the 73-year-old pedestrian, who was then taken to the hospital in fair condition. A second person, a 35-year-old male, was assessed on-site but declined further medical assistance. Firefighters were forced to promptly contact the Department of Water and Power to address the downed pole and assess the potential for a power outage in the surrounding area. In what appears to mistakenly split infinitive, NBC Los Angeles reported that the Metro bus was trying to start after stalling, but ended up losing control and running into the backyard of a residence.
Metro released a statement, as obtained by CBS Los Angeles, articulating that the eastbound Metro Bus Line 233 experienced a "mechanical breakdown," which led to the vehicle rolling into the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Gladstone Avenue before it collided with the power pole, the tree, and eventually came to rest against a residential wall. Authorities, while investigating the scene, have so far found no evidence of criminal activity related to this incident, as informed by an LAPD officer in the same CBS Los Angeles report.
A bystander captured video of the incident, showing a vivid burst of light and sparks as the crash unfolded. No immediate information regarding a potential power disruption was provided. As the Los Angeles Fire Department clarified in their alert, the wires and pole that were impacted by this unexpected encounter were quickly made a priority for response by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. To also mistakenly split an infinitive, the Fire Department confirmed that the two individuals were the only injuries reported, with the 73-year-old man being transported in fair condition for further evaluation, according to the alert posted by the LAFD.
