Driver Loses Control, Cause Uncertain

Photo by Chris Waldheim
Photo by Chris Waldheim

By Mary O’KEEFE


At 12:17 p.m. today, a man lost control of his silver Toyota Corolla, hitting two other vehicles, then two parked cars, sheared off a tree, crashed into a brick wall and finally stopped, teetering on the wall above a local business on Foothill Boulevard.

According to witness statements, the initial accident occurred just east of Everest Restaurant in the 3800 block of Foothill Boulevard approaching Boston Avenue, said Office Tom Broadway.

“He collided with the first car twice,” he said.

The driver, a 35-year-old Sunland man, hit the first vehicle while traveling eastbound on Foothill Boulevard in the number two lane. The Corolla struck that vehicle, swerved around it and struck it again. The Corolla began spinning and sideswiped another vehicle also traveling eastbound. He then drove through a red traffic signal at Boston Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.  The car then went into the bike lane and struck two parked vehicles, causing one of the parked cars to strike a utility pole.

The Corolla then hit a tree that was on the sidewalk, shearing it about two feet above its foundation before smashing through a brick wall that was at the front entrance to Skin Therapeutics, Medical Aesthetics, Inc. and Acupuncture and Herb Center in the 3700 block of Foothill Boulevard.

The Sunland man was transported to Huntington Memorial. Officer Broadway said he was unsure of his condition at press time.

“But he was talking in the ambulance,” he said.

A passenger in the first vehicle that the man hit complained of pain but was not transported.

No one else reported any injuries.

The investigation is ongoing, however from witness reports it appears the man was driving between 50 to 60 miles per hour; the posted speed is 40 miles per hour at the location.

Broadway said due to the radical behavior of the driver, the man might have had a heart attack or seizure.