A 32-year-old woman was struck and killed by a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car late Saturday night while the vehicle responded to an emergency backup call at a Halloween party, according to authorities.
The fatal collision occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. near Woodman Avenue and Bessemer Street in Valley Glen. Los Angeles firefighters responded to the scene, where the pedestrian was pronounced dead, according to LAPD Lt. Elpidio Orozco. No police officers sustained injuries in the crash.
Emergency Response on Woodman Avenue
The patrol car involved in the incident belonged to the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division and was actively responding to an emergency call in the Van Nuys Division, Orozco stated. According to reporting by ABC7, the cruiser was traveling to provide backup at a Halloween house party several miles away on Weddington Street in Sherman Oaks.
Woman killed by LAPD patrol car responding to Halloween party call https://t.co/o82JQa3qfG
Police dispatchers had received a report of shots fired at the Sherman Oaks location, where responding officers encountered a crowd of approximately 300 people. The patrol vehicle had its emergency lights and sirens activated at the time it struck the pedestrian, ABC7 reported, KTLA noted, citing an LAPD spokesperson, that the woman was outside a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred.
Ongoing Investigation in Valley Glen
The crowd at the Sherman Oaks Halloween party was eventually dispersed by law enforcement without any reported injuries, according to ABC7. It remains unclear whether a gun was found at the scene.
The identity of the 32-year-old victim has been withheld pending notification of her relatives by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, Orozco stated. The LAPD’s Multidisciplinary Collision Investigation Team is investigating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which police division operated the patrol car involved in the crash?
The vehicle belonged to the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division and was en route to handle an emergency call within the Van Nuys Division, according to LAPD Lt. Elpidio Orozco.
Where did the fatal pedestrian strike take place?
The collision occurred around 11:30 p.m. near Woodman Avenue and Bessemer Street in Valley Glen.
What prompted the emergency response from the officers?
Officers were responding to a backup request following a "shots fired" call at a Halloween house party on Weddington Street in Sherman Oaks, where approximately 300 people had gathered.
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