A female pedestrian died after being run over by a trash truck as it was backing up on a street in Beverly Grove Thursday, authorities said.
The sanitation vehicle was traveling in the 8900 block of West Third Street (map) around 8:30 a.m. when the collision occurred, according to Officer Sally Madera with the Los Angeles Police Department.
The pedestrian was walking in the roadway at the time she was struck, said Rolando Solano, commanding officer with the LAPD’s West Traffic Division.
According to the Madera, the vehicle had backed into the woman.
It was not immediately clear whether the woman was walking in a crosswalk when she was struck.
Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at the scene a short time later and pronounced her dead.
The street was temporarily cordoned off as police investigated the incident.
In the wake of the collision, Solano urged pedestrians to check carefully when walking into the street in the vicinity of sanitation vehicles.
“Bottom line is, if you’re going to cross the street, you want to make sure before you step out into the street, you look both directions, and try to make eye contact with the driver of that vehicle before stepping foot into the street,” he said. “Always be aware of your surroundings.”
The city’s Department of Public Works issued a brief statement after the death, saying a “full investigation” was underway.
“L.A. Sanitation is deeply saddened by the death of a pedestrian involved in an accident with one of our collection truck operators today,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this unfortunate tragedy.”
