7 People Cited For Allegedly Entering Closed Section Of 405 Freeway
WEST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Seven people were cited on Sunday for allegedly entering closed portions of the 405 Freeway.
Amy Johnson, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, said they consisted of four rollerbladers, a newlywed couple and one pedestrian.
Earlier Sunday, KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO reported via Twitter that the newlyweds were cited on the Sunset Boulevard on-ramp of the southbound 405 Freeway.
The couple was spotted about 3:40 a.m., said California Highway Patrol officer Charmaine Fajardo.
Officials urged motorists and residents to steer clear of the closed freeway.
Johnson also said a tourist couple from Europe was not cited as they went on the freeway by accident.
Former professional skateboarder Cindy Whitehead, a Hermosa Beach resident, was also not cited. She thought it would be fun to skate down a stretch of the freeway around 8 a.m.
Johnson spoke to Whitehead and her husband about their daring two-minute caper.
Whitehead's husband, professional photographer Ian Logan, took a series of photos. "We just thought it would be a very iconic photo to make," she explained.
Said Logan, "We thought it would be an opportunity to do something that was completely California. Freeways and skateboards? It was, you know, you gotta try it."
Whitehead knew there were risks involved. She had the names and phone numbers of a bail bondsman, a friend and an attorney written in marker on her arms, just in case she was arrested.
She said, "I was hoping people would see the good natured-ness in it. I wasn't trying to harm anyone. I wasn't trying to be dangerous."
Whitehead adds, "I'm glad I did it. I'm glad it's done. It was a lot of fun, it was fun for two minutes. And it's something I can say I have done. Not too many people can say they have ridden the 405 Freeway on a skateboard."
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