Los Angeles, Ca
Family, including 11-year-old girl, hospitalized after Universal Studios tram crash
A family recalls the fear they felt when the studio tram they were riding in crashed at Universal Studios Hollywood, leaving 15 people injured.
Since the incident, the Murrieta family claims park officials have downplayed the severity of the crash and the victims’ injuries.
“He indicated it was incredibly dark at the scene,” said Steven Dhillon, the family’s attorney. “Many victims were holding up their flashlights, trying to locate other victims, everybody was screaming. It was mass hysteria.”
Emergency crews responded to the park on April 20 just after 9 p.m., after reports of a crash taking place during the studio backlot tour attraction.
The tram was passing the Jurassic Park exhibit when, while making a left turn, the last tram car struck a metal guardrail on the right-hand side, according to California Highway Patrol.
The maneuver tilted the vehicle, causing passengers to fall out and onto the road. Emergency crews transported 15 people to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries.
One family visiting from Murrieta was injured in the crash, including 11-year-old Sophia who was celebrating her birthday at the theme park.
Sophia was ejected from the tram and her father suffered leg, back and shoulder injuries. The girl’s mother was the most injured in the family.
“She was propelled so violently into the plexiglass wall in front of her,” Dhillon said. “It impacted her brain so much that it started to bleed. She’s been experiencing headaches, nausea, vomiting, disorientation. The list goes on and on.”
All three injured family members were treated at a local hospital and later released.
Universal Studios released a statement after the crash saying, “We are thankful that, based on agency reports, the injuries sustained were minor.”
However, Dhillon believes the tram was traveling unusually fast that night and that the windows and walls of the tram were not strong enough to protect riders.
“The guard walls that come down on the tram were so weak that they gave out and allowed the individuals to be hurled outside of the tram,” Dhillon said. “This was by no means a minor accident with minor injuries. You don’t transport a dozen individuals to the hospital for minor injuries.”
Although the family said they do not plan to sue Universal Studios, they are hoping park officials will “step up and do the right thing.”
The studio trams can hold over 100 people and typically travel at low speeds. It’s unclear how many people were on board when the collision occurred.
The Studio Tour remains one of the theme park’s most popular attractions, taking riders on a one-hour backlot tour of some of the most iconic film and television sets in Hollywood history.
Throughout the tour, guests experience several interactive elements including animatronics, 3-D motion, sound stages with special effects, and more.
The attraction is celebrating its 60th Anniversary celebration this year after debuting in 1964.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities confirmed that alcohol and drugs were not considered factors. Officials with the California Highway Patrol will be leading the investigation.
Anyone with information on the incident can call CHP Investigating Officer L. Hawkins at 213-744-2331.
Los Angeles, Ca
Wealthy L.A. investor blasted for seeking paid firefighters: ‘Will pay any amount’
A 40-year-old Los Angeles millionaire, well known for his success in real estate, has deleted his X account, after facing intense criticism for pleading on the social media platform for private firefighters to save his Pacific Palisades home on Tuesday.
Keith Wasserman, whose X bio used to read “entrepreneur, investor, contrarian, compounding,” is a partner and co-founder at Gelt Venture Partners, described on his Linkedin page as “Multifamily Real Estate Investments with High Net Worth Individuals and Families.”
“Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades?” the 40-year-old posted on X Jan. 7 as the fire raged. “Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you.”
The Palisades Fire, which was first reported at around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, quickly spread through residential and commercial districts, prompting immediate evacuations for tens of thousands of people and has since destroyed thousands of structures across more than 19,000 acres.
The wildfire is believed to be the most destructive natural disaster in L.A. history, with the damage estimated to be somewhere in the $50 billion range.
Wasserman, who, according to the Daily Beast, had previously posted about his disdain for paying property taxes, writing “real estate ballers don’t pay any,“ was immediately “dragged” by other X users.
“Congratulations on no longer having to pay property taxes,” one user wrote, tagging Wasserman whose home reportedly burned down in the fire.
“You really can’t make this stuff up,” another X user said. “The rich guy Keith Wasserman bragged about not paying taxes & now wants private firefighters to protect his home while neighbors’ home burn.”
Not all the comments were entirely negative, however. Some users came to the real-estate investor’s defense.
“It’s deeply disheartening to witness the backlash against Keith Wasserman,” a user from San Diego wrote. “Keith was fighting to save his home and the cherished memories of his family. Almost anyone in his position, faced with flames at their doorstep, would have acted similarly.”
“If you’re sitting in the comfort of your home judging Keith Wasserman for trying to save his home – maybe realize that you are lucky and be thankful. We all need to be more gentle,” yet another X user posted.
It’s not entirely uncommon for those with the financials means, like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2018, to get for-hire firefighters, though they were also heavily criticized at the time as well.
It’s unclear if Wasserman has any intentions of returning to X, but his account no longer existed by Jan. 9.
Los Angeles, Ca
Here's how to help those impacted by the wildfires across Southern California
As devasting wildfires continue to burn Southern California, residents and organizations are stepping up to provide aid to those affected.
Here’s how you can support wildfire victims on their path to recovery.
- KTLA 5 parent company, Nexstar Media Group, has partnered with the American Red Cross to launch a donation page for Southern California wildfire victims. Donations can be placed here.
- Baby2Baby is accepting donations to support children impacted by the wildfires.
- GoFundMe has compiled a list of verified fundraisers for people impacted by the ongoing wildfires.
- SPCALA’s Disaster Animal Response Team is seeking donations to support emergency services, such as temporary animal shelters and front-line veterinary care.
- The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is accepting donations to support firefighters on the front lines. The foundation is seeking monetary donations, wildland brush tools, hydration backpacks, and emergency fire shelters.
- The California Fire Foundation is looking for donations to support surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they serve.
- The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations and items to support those affected by the wildfires.
- World Central Kitchen, spearheaded by Chef José Andrés, has a relief team in Southern California to assist first responders and families. The organization is accepting donations to support the ongoing relief effort.
- The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is accepting donations and looking for volunteers.
- Direct Relief is also accepting donations to support those impacted by the wildfires.
- Community Organized Relief Effort, or CORE, is accepting donations to support wildfire victims.
Los Angeles, Ca
Eaton Fire victim dies holding a hose, defending home
One of the five confirmed fatalities from the destructive Eaton Fire was identified on Wednesday morning when his family found his body on the side of the road by their home – with a garden hose still in his hand.
According to his loved ones, 66-year-old Victor Shaw died trying to defend the home that had been in his family for nearly 55 years.
As of Wednesday night, Victor’s body was still on his family’s property in the 3000 block of Monterose Avenue as conditions were not yet safe enough for the coroner’s office to retrieve him.
Victor lived in that home with his younger sister, Shari Shaw, who said that she tried to get him to evacuate with her on Tuesday night as the fire moved toward them.
Those close to Victor said he had some health problems that prevented him from moving around very well.
As she was running out the door, Shari said Victor told her he wanted to stay behind and try to fight the fire.
“When I went back in and yelled out his name, he didn’t reply back, and I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a firestorm – I had to save myself,” Shari told KTLA’s Rick Chambers. “And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”
A family friend, Al Tanner, told KTLA that the next morning, they found Victor’s charred body on the side of the road with the hose.
“It looks like he was trying to save the home that his parents had for almost 55 years,” said Tanner.
“I fell to the ground, and I didn’t know – I didn’t want to look at him,” said Shari. “They just told me that he was lying on the ground and that he looked serene, as if he was at peace.”
As of early morning Thursday, the cause of the 10,600-acre Eaton Fire remained under investigation.
The Eaton Fire was one of four large, active wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The largest, the 17,234-acre Palisades Fire, destroyed an estimated 1,000 structures. A separate 855-acre fire, the Hurst Fire, burned in the L.A. neighborhood of Sylmar. A fast-moving fire in the Antelope Valley called the Lidia Fire has burned at least 348 acres and forced evacuations. Crews have made progress on the 43-acre Sunset Fire which forced rapid evacuations in the Hollywood Hills.
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