Street Racing Blamed for Pedestrian Crash the Kills USC Student

Street Racing Blamed for Pedestrian Crash the Kills USC Student

Dec 15, 2021

A USC student was fatally struck in a crosswalk by a driver who police say was street racing. The deadly pedestrian accident occurred Saturday afternoon in the Exposition Park neighborhood near Jefferson and Harvard Boulevards. The victim was reportedly crossing the street near campus, coming home from picking up food.

Los Angeles Police Department officials have confirmed that the victim, identified as 21-year-old Arian Rahbar by the L.A. County Coroner’s Office, was crossing Jefferson Boulevard at the time of the incident.

Two cars were reportedly street racing when the pedestrian accident took place.

“It’s [street racing] a problem we’re seeing more and more of, lately,” LAPD detective Ryann Moreno said, according to NBC Los Angeles.

CBS Los Angeles reported that the driver of the vehicle which struck the student remained at the accident site and cooperated with authorities. Rahbar was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both of the drivers alleged to have been street racing were detained. Charges against either of the drivers have not been announced.

The two cars have reportedly been taken into police custody – a Dodge and an Infiniti. NBC Los Angeles reported that the vehicles involved in the fatal pedestrian accident are believed to belong to a car club that is known to engage in area street racing.

“I believe one of them is an Infiniti, the other one was a Challenger Hellcat, pretty souped-up,” Moreno told NBC, adding that both vehicles were equipped for street racing.

“As they were racing, one of the vehicles struck the male and unfortunately, he later succumbed to his injuries,” Detective Moreno told ABC 7 in a Sunday interview. “We’re still piecing everything together… interviewing witnesses, gathering video, all that’s in the works right now.”

The LAPD confirmed that Rahbar is the 101st pedestrian killed this year by a driver in the Los Angeles area.

Reseda Pedestrian Crash Kills 85-Year-Old Man

Police confirmed another fatal pedestrian accident over the weekend, this time involving a hit-and-run that killed an 85-year-old man in Reseda. The Los Angeles Daily News reported that the suspect, Fardeen Khan, 24, was taken into custody Saturday afternoon and was released later that evening.

LAPD Officer Drake Madison confirmed to the Los Angeles Daily News that Khan was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death.

Police said the fatal pedestrian hit-and-run crash was reported at about 3 p.m. Friday near Saticoy Street and Garden Grove Avenue.

The victim died at the hospital, and his identity was withheld.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accidents

USC’s Neighborhood Data for Social Change program confirms that between 2012 and 2016, more than 14,230 pedestrians were injured in collisions on Los Angeles city streets. Moreover, 439 pedestrians lost their lives during that time.

Data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System indicates that the number of pedestrian fatalities in the City of Los Angeles has “skyrocketed since 2015,” according to the USC program.

Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an executive directive establishing Vision Zero LA in 2015, an initiative within the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. The goal of LA’s Vision Zero program is to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) pedestrian accident lawyers are available 24/7 for free consultations and to answer any questions you may have regarding filing a claim – whether for an injury or tragic fatality.

A pedestrian accident civil lawsuit can be a means of recovering financial compensation that is critical to the full recovery process – both physically and financially. Some common damages that may be secured through a pedestrian accident injury lawsuit include:

• Hospital bills
• Medical care costs
• Physical therapy costs
• Emotional trauma
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity

When a fatality occurs as a result of a pedestrian accident, a wrongful death lawsuit may be filed by the victim’s surviving family members. Some common damages that may be awarded in a wrongful death claim include:

• Funeral or burial expenses
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of pension
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of benefits (medical, etc.)

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

To speak with a DLG pedestrian accident or wrongful death lawyer, contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. There is never any fee until we’ve successfully recovered a maximum financial damages award for your claim.

DLG is founded by Sam Dordulian, a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. To date, DLG’s experienced and dedicated attorneys have recovered more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts for injured clients while maintaining a 98% success record.