Los Angeles, Ca
Man recalls being ejected from moving RV on Southern California freeway
A man recalls the terrifying moment he was ejected from a moving RV as it was driving on a busy freeway in Newhall.
The incident, which was captured on dashcam video by a passing car, happened on Jan. 15 as the survivor, Cordell Patrick, was traveling on the northbound lanes of the 14 Freeway just south of Newhall Avenue.
Patrick, a former ESPN sportscaster, was on his way home to Valencia when his wife, who was driving, had fallen asleep behind the wheel.
Right before she fell asleep, Patrick had stood up for just a moment to use the restroom.
“I had just unbuckled my seat belt. It was only unbuckled for five seconds,” Patrick recalled. “I noticed my wife had dozed off, so instead of going straight, we were headed toward the median. I tried grabbing the steering wheel, but before I could grab it we already had impact.”
In a matter of seconds, the motorhome, which was traveling around 60 miles per hour, collided with the center median. The violent impact threw Patrick out the driver’s side window.
Video shows his body flying over the center divider and onto the opposite lanes of the busy freeway. He was thrown about 170 feet across the roadway.
As Patrick landed on the ground near the median, he thought the terrifying moment would be his last before dying.
“All I’m thinking about is that I’m going to get hit by a car,” he said. “I’m on one of the busiest freeways in L.A. County so what was going through my mind was, ‘I’ll be dead shortly.’”
Dashcam video shows a white SUV quickly swerving out of the way to avoid running over Patrick as his body landed on the ground.
Severely injured but realizing he was still alive, Patrick’s only concern at that moment was moving to a safer spot.
“I just dragged myself and then I leaned up my back against the median until help could come and help came pretty quick,” he recalled.
Alf Smithey, a good Samaritan who spotted Patrick on the ground, immediately pulled over.
“I noticed the guy is laying in the road still,” Smithey recalled. “I was just trying to keep cars away from him. He was all the way there [conscious]. That was the shocking part. I asked him his name, I asked him all kinds of stuff and he was all the way there. He knew he broke his arm, he knew he broke his leg.”
When the fire department crews and paramedics arrived, Patrick was conscious and breathing. He was transported to the hospital where he is still recovering on Tuesday night.
Patrick suffered multiple broken bones, a dislocated shoulder, lacerations to his head, 17 stitches and has road rash covering around 60 percent of his body.
No other drivers, including Patrick’s wife, were injured during the crash. Their beagle, who was riding with them in the RV, was also unharmed. Their motorhome, however, was mostly destroyed.
Patrick said he’s thankful to be alive and is still in shock as to how he survived.
“It was divine intervention,” he said. “If you didn’t think there was a higher power before this, I’m a living witness and I’ve got a living testimony to tell.”
Los Angeles, Ca
$50,000 reward offered in 2019 Koreatown killing; family still seeks answers 7 years later
Juan Cuevas, 26, was shot and killed near Beverly Boulevard and St. Andrews Place in Koreatown in January 2019. Seven years later, his parents, Cesar and Patricia Cuevas, returned to the neighborhood this weekend to hang flyers, hoping someone will provide information about the unsolved killing.
In March, the Los Angeles Police Department announced a $50,000 reward for details leading to the suspect’s identity, arrest and conviction.
The killing remains unsolved and the suspect has not been identified. Juan was the oldest of four children and the only son in his family. He also worked for the family’s plumbing business with his father, Cesar.
“He was my partner,” Cesar said. “He used to work with me all the time.”
Surveillance video obtained by the Los Angeles Police Department captured the moments before and after the shooting. Investigators reported that a dark-colored Honda Accord pulled up just after 10:20 p.m. the night of the incident. A passenger then exited the vehicle, approached Juan and opened fire. Another camera recorded Juan running into a nearby liquor store in search of help. He collapsed inside and was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The family said that it continues to experience profound grief over Juan’s death. The family has set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising awareness of the case.
“We are dying together,” Cesar said. “The time is coming and going and we are dying together.”
Juan’s mother said that her son’s death is an ongoing struggle.
“So far we haven’t had any answers,” Patricia said. “Seven years. It hasn’t been easy for our house, our family, living with this in our hearts, knowing that person is around.”
The family noted that multiple detectives have been assigned to the case over the years, but they feel they have received limited information about the investigation.
“It was my only son,” Cesar said. “I got three daughters. It was my first son and we haven’t heard anything from the police.”
The family said that investigators seem overwhelmed handling the case.
“All they say is, ‘We have so many cases we have to work on,’” Cesar said. “‘Yours is on our list, but we have a lot to work on,’ and that’s their answer.”
In their search for answers, the Cuevas family reached out to people who knew Juan, but they said no one has been willing to talk.
“Nobody has said anything,” he added. “Too many people say ‘I know your son’ and nobody wants to say anything.”
The family hopes the recently announced $50,000 reward will bring renewed attention to the case. Watch the full report from KTLA’s Jillian Smukler in the video at the top of this story.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTLA. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTLA staff before being published.
Los Angeles, Ca
Motorcyclist killed by hit-and-run truck driver in Sun Valley
A truck driver was arrested for a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in Sun Valley.
The Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspect as Edvard Gyulnazaryan, 64, of Glendale.
On May 28, police responded to the crash near Bradley Avenue and Tuxford Street around 4:20 a.m.
Gyulnazaryan was driving a semi-truck when he made a left turn onto a private property.
A motorcyclist from behind attempted to pass on the left side of the truck during the turn and was struck by the vehicle.
Gyulnazaryan continued driving and did not stop to check on the motorcyclist, police said.
The biker was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. His name is being withheld pending identification and notification to next of kin.
Police said Gyulnazaryan returned to the scene hours later and was taken into custody. He was booked at the Van Nuys jail for felony hit-and-run causing death.
“Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” LAPD said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Detective Ramirez at 818-644-8025 or Officer Reyes at 818-644-8114.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man stabbed to death after violent dog attack on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Loved ones are devastated after a 37-year-old man was attacked by a dog and stabbed to death by several men on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The unprovoked attack happened on May 20 as Berry Henderson, 37, was standing at a bus stop near Hollywood Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue around 3 p.m.
Surveillance video showed Henderson running into the street as a dog was seen chasing him and aggressively biting him.
Henderson managed to pull out a knife and stabbed the dog to defend himself. That’s when a group of four men, one of whom was the dog’s owner, rushed over to attack Henderson. A suspect who was armed with a machete was seen stabbing and punching Henderson.
The victim’s cousin, Sharon Grimes, said she was stunned that no bystanders acted to help Henderson.
“People around weren’t doing anything,” she said. “I didn’t see anybody try to come to his rescue, with all that blood. Nobody picked up the phone.”
“That’s what makes it so shocking,” said Najee Ali, a community activist. “That someone could actually be stabbed to death, beaten and bit by a dog in broad daylight with no one helping.”
Henderson, who was critically injured, stumbled across the street while trying to escape the attackers, but the men quickly came after him again.
“He was running away,” said Demeya Brewer, the victim’s cousin. “He was down on the ground, running away and they still continued to attack him.”
Henderson, who had suffered multiple stab wounds, died from his injuries at the hospital.
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the scene and were able to locate and arrest three suspects. The fourth male suspect managed to escape.
On Friday night, Henderson’s family gathered at the scene for a candlelight vigil to honor Henderson, who was a student at a local trade school. Family members said he was a peaceful man who was loved by his friends and community.
“My cousin was not a threat to anyone,” Brewer said. “This was his area, his neighborhood. Business owners knew him. We need more love and peace.”
Henderson’s family believes there are witnesses who likely know where the fourth suspect is hiding. They’re asking anyone with information on the case to call the LAPD at 213-382-9470.
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