Glendale P.D. Cracking Down

GLENDALE, Oct. 10, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- The facts are clear. The number of serious injuries resulting from accidents triggered by road rage, street racing and excessive speed is growing at an alarming rate, and health professionals are very concerned.

Glendale Police are using an electronic sign to ask for the public's help in tracking down a hit-and-run suspect who mowed down a man on Chevy Chase Drive on Sunday night.

That victim is one of a dozen victims who were either injured or killed in several cases of road rage, speeding, and street racing this week alone. It seems L.A. drivers are just out of control.

A street race in El Monte Monday ends in a fiery crash that kills a woman and her two children. One day later, a case of road rage in Van Nuys kills one child, seriously injures another child and their mother.

Racing and angry drivers are taking their toll on Los Angeles pedestrians.

"We see this kind of thing all the time," said Northridge Hospital's Dr. Stephen Jones. Dr. Stephen Jones is the director of emergency services at Northridge Hospital. He says auto-versus-pedestrian injuries happen all too often.

"People getting knocked underneath cars, thrown quite a distance. We see, unfortunately, some pretty gruesome things," said Dr. Jones. "Mangled extremities, severe head injuries, and sometimes it's pretty gory, to be honest with you."

In Glendale, a man was killed Sunday night while walking home from church. The hit-and-run suspect is still on the loose.

Police are advising pedestrians to be extra cautious, even though they may have right of way.

"If you see a car that you don't think is going to stop, then by all means, you want to stop yourself, and don't take that right-of-way, because it could mean serious injury or even, perhaps, your life," said Sgt. Dennis Smith, Glendale Police Dept.

But it's not just pedestrians who are at risk. Police also say drivers need to stay focused when they're behind the wheel.

"You have to drive defensively all the time; you have to anticipate what people may do," said Sgt. Smith.

Glendale Police acknowledge street racing and speeding are a big problem in their community. They've tried to crack down using helicopter patrols over Glenoaks Blvd. And now they plan to beef up their pedestrian sting operations.

Glendale police will have officers planted at busy intersections watching cars to make sure they stop for pedestrians, or those motorists will be cited.

On the flip side, if a pedestrian is caught jaywalking or walking against a light, they too will be cited. This is all part of the Glendale P.D.'s effort to make streets safer and cut down on the carnage.