NoHo Residents Call For Traffic Signal After Girl, 12, Is Killed
NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CBS) — Residents are calling for a traffic signal at a dangerous North Hollywood intersection following the death of a 12-year-old girl.
Emely Aleman and 10-year-old Angela Rodriguez were struck by a Jeep Wrangler in a crosswalk Tuesday. Aleman was taken off life support Wednesday night and Rodriguez remains hospitalized with critical injuries, according to Los Angeles police.
The girls were in a marked crosswalk on Laurel Canyon Boulevard near Archwood Street when they were struck just after 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to witnesses and the LAPD.
The driver of the Jeep, 23-year-old Ian Thomas Leiner of Sherman Oaks, stopped and called 911. He was not arrested or cited.
The girls were thrown about 50 feet from the point of impact, according to witnesses at the scene.
Aleman's uncle Gabriel Avila told KCAL 9 that her parents chose to take her off life support Thursday.
"It is a different situation than three days ago, when they were trick-or-treating, asking for candy, changing into costumes, thinking about finishing up their homework, you know, that's not going to happen anymore," he said.
He also spoke about Rodriquez's condition.
"It's going to be a long recovery," he said. "Because of the injuries she sustained. She's conscious but definitely in a lot of pain."
The girls' family members and other residents held a protest Thursday night, demanding the installation of a traffic light to make the intersection safer for pedestrians. Emily and Angela were not the first pedestrians to be struck down by vehicles at the intersection.
Councilman Paul Krekorian's office, school board members and other city officials are working on plans to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection.
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