Injured teen in Johnson's Pasture

Emergency workers carry an injured cyclist in Johnson's Pasture. The teen was airlifted due to head injuries. (photo courtesy of Michael Balchunas)

A teenager lost control of his bicycle and crashed while riding in Johnson's Pasture yesterday. He was airlifted to Los Angeles with injuries to his legs and head, according to a witness.

Police were called around 10:30 a.m. about the accident. The 15-year-old and 2 friends were riding on a steep section of a trail in Johnson's Pasture when he lost of his bicycle, witness Michael Balchunas said.

Paramedics responded and requested the airlift due to head trauma from the fall.

"He had some bruising on his legs and cheekbone," Mr. Balchunas said. "But it didn't look too bad."

The helicopter from Los Angeles County landed in the Claremont Wilderness Park, just northwest of the condominiums on High Point in Claraboya. The teenager was carried by paramedics to the helicopter.

There's no official word yet on the nature of his injuries.

Dangerous intersection?

Two pedestrians suffered moderate injuries after being struck by a vehicle yesterday evening.

Around 6:15 p.m., the pedestrians were walking in a crosswalk at Bonita and Cambridge avenues. An elderly driver was leaving a church service at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church when he hit the pedestrians. His exact age was not immediately known.

"The driver said the sun was right in his eyes from the sunset and he could not see the pedestrians," Claremont Police Lieutenant Dennis Smith said.

The vehicle was not moving very fast but the pedestrians were both knocked to the ground, Lt. Smith said. They were transported to a local hospital, suffering from non-life threatening injuries.

No further information was immediately available.

In November 2009, a Claremont man died after being struck by a car in the same intersection. The 88-year-old man was crossing the street in a motorized scooter when he was hit by a vehicle. He died 13 days after the accident in the hospital.

Catherine Shelton will be missed

Photo from Facebook

Catherine Shelton, 42, was the woman involved in Wednesday morning's tragic traffic collision in Village West. She did not survive her injuries.

Shelton was loved by many in the community and is described as a caring person who made everyone around her feel comfortable. She was very social and had a wide circle of friends.

A 13-year Claremont resident, Shelton was a former member of the Disaster Response Team of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and served as a board member of Claremont school's PFA.

Shelton was also very active in the business community. She worked as a realtor for Coldwell Banker Town & Country and was an active member of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce.

She was also a mother of a 19-year-old son who recently graduated from Claremont High School.

She will be greatly missed by those who were lucky enough to get to know her.

Village pedestrian accident update

Claremont police have confirmed in a press release that the woman who was struck by a vehicle in the Village today did not survive her injuries.

According to the release, police were called at 10:40 a.m. regarding a traffic collision. When police arrived, they found a badly injured female who had been run over by a vehicle. The woman was transported to Pomona Valley Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries at 11:21 a.m.

According to police, the driver of the vehicle is Brenda Monahan of Claremont. She was interviewed by police and later released at the scene.

According to witnesses, Monahan dropped off a friend on the south side of First Street near 21 Choices. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle accelerated forward up onto the sidewalk, hitting the victim, witnesses said.

Tire marks along First Street show that the vehicle continued to travel on the sidewalk, coming to a halt about 100 feet away. The vehicle finally crashed near the entrance to Bua Thai Cuisine.

The name of the victim has not been released by police, pending notification of the next of kin. The Claremont Police Department Traffic Bureau is investigating the incident.

Monahan is the owner of Three French Hens in the Village. She recently signed a lease with the city to move her business into a location on First Street, near where the accident happened. As part of the lease, Monahan agreed to be Claremont's business "concierge," handing out information to visitors about businesses in the city.

Pedestrian hit on First Street in Village West

A female pedestrian was struck by a motorist on the 400 block of West First Street in Village West.

Police have blocked off traffic between Indian Hill Boulevard and Oberlin Avenue for several hours while investigating the collision. The accident was first reported at 10:40 a.m.

Claremont Police Lieutenant Karlan Bennett said information was not available about the victim or her condition, pending further investigation.

"My guys are out there right now trying to figure out what happened," Lt. Bennett said.

The CCB will post an update to this story as soon as new information comes in.

Accident victim released from hospital

The 54-year-old man struck by a motorist on Saturday afternoon was released from the hospital yesterday with no broken bones or serious injuries.

The man was walking in a crosswalk at Indian Hill Boulevard and San Jose Avenue around 4:20 p.m. when the accident occurred. A 55-year-old woman turning southbound onto Indian Hill caused the accident.

After the crash, a helicopter landing at Larkin Park airlifted the man to USC Medical Center. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved but continue to investigate the crash.

Accident on San Jose and Indian Hill

A man in his 50s is in the hospital after a vehicle struck him at Indian Hill Boulevard and San Jose Avenue.

Around 4:20 p.m., the Claremont resident was walking in the crosswalk at the intersection, Claremont Police Seargant John Costa said. Driving a Kia Spectra, another Claremont resident in his 50s was turning south on Indian Hill from San Jose when the collission occurred.

The man suffered injuries to his head and arm and was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center for treatment. Police are still investigating the matter.

Update on the Metrolink crash

Police have released the name of the woman involved in yesterday's Metrolink crash.

Velma Curley, 79, of Claremont died shortly after being struck by the train around 3:15 p.m.

According to Claremont Police Chief Paul Cooper, the LA County Coroner notified Ms. Curley's family last night about what happened. An autopsy will take place today.

Still no word on what caused the woman to walk out onto the train tracks. While some have speculated that it was a suicide, police still need to conduct their investigation.

"There's some conflicting statements (from witnesses) and it's still pretty early (in the investigation) for us to tell," Chief Cooper said.

Woman dies in Metrolink crash

A woman's body is covered with yellow tarp after being struck by the Metrolink train

A woman died after being struck by a Metrolink train in what appears to be a suicide. Around 3:30 p.m., the woman got up from her seat on a nearby wall and walked in front of the train, according to bystanders at the scene who had talked to an eye witness.

Shortly after the incident, the eyewitness (pictured below), drove off. She was too distraught to speak.

The incident occurred just east of Indian Hill Boulevard at the Claremont Train Depot.

Claremont Police, LA County Sheriff and Fire Department officials were quickly at the scene to close off the area and maintain traffic control.

It is unknown at this time the age of the woman or further details about her death. I'll try to provide more information as it is released.

Indian Hill Boulevard is blocked off to traffic as law enforcement handles the scene of the Metrolink crash

A distraught eye-witness, seen in the blue vehicle, is comforted by bystanders.

Traffic signal at 10th and Indian Hill

After the unfortunate pedestrian accident last month, the Traffic and Transportation Commission will hear a report from city staff on the installation of a traffic signal at 10th Street and Indian Hill Boulevard.

The city completed a warrant analysis on traffic flow at the intersection and determined that it met the requirements for a traffic signal. The city estimates it would take about 6 months to install the signal at a cost of about $160,000, according to the city staff report.

After the commission review, the city council would still need to approve the project. For those interested in attending the meeting, the T&T Commission will discuss the issue on Thursday, June 25 beginning at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers.

Neighborhood meeting tonight

After a short hiatus (I was on vacation last week), I will be back to blogging.

The crosswalk safety frenzy will continue tonight at city hall with a meeting scheduled to discuss another dangerous crosswalk in town at Arrow Highway and Oakdale Drive.

"Over the last ten years, there have been several deaths and accidents on the stretch of Arrow Highway between College and Mills," one area resident said. "The speed limit is 35 mph, but daytime and nighttime speeds look to average around 50 mph."

Area residents will meet with city engineers in a downstairs conference room beginning at 6:30 p.m.

After the recent pedestrian accident on Indian Hill and 10th Street, the city council decided to conduct a "warrant analysis" on installing a traffic signal at the intersection. Over the next couple of weeks, city staff will see if the volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic warrants a signal based on the requirements of the city's insurer, the JPIA.

If it's determined that there is not enough traffic there, the intersection will not get a new traffic signal. In that scenario, the city plans to install an overhead flashing beacon and remove the in-pavement lighting.

In the meantime, the city is repainting the zebra striping at the crosswalk and has posted new speed limit signs there.

Indian Hill accident update

Here's the latest on the pedestrian accident on Indian Hill Boulevard after talking to Claremont police. The victims are Barbara and Noah Witt, family members of the city's Community Development Director Tony Witt. Barbara and Noah were rushed to Pomona Valley immediately after the accident. Barbara was treated and released last night. No word on the nature of her injuries. Five-year-old Noah was transported to another hospital where he is being treated in a pediatrics intensive care unit. He's listed in stable condition after suffering some chest and head trauma. Apparently, the driver didn't see the pedestrians. She was driving west on 10th Street and turned south onto Indian Hill when the accident occurred. Again, our thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery go out to the Witt family.

Accident on Indian Hill

A boy and his mother were hit by a car while crossing the crosswalk at Indian Hill Boulevard and 10th Street. I have not been able to get a hold of police yet to confirm reports about the situation. But I have heard through the rumor mill that the mother is in stable condition. The young boy, I believe just 5 years old, was airlifted to Loma Linda Hospital and is responding and moving his limbs. The unfortunate incident happened around 3 p.m. today. A stretch of Indian Hill Boulevard was closed off for quite some time as police cleared the scene. Our prayers and thoughts go out to this Claremont family at this scary time.