Jaywalking

A 48-year-old Newhall man who died after being struck by a car was jaywalking at the time, Los Angeles county sheriff's officials said Tuesday. Jose Chavero, 48, was illegally crossing San Fernando Road near 6th Street around 11:40 a.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies said. Ceferino Lemus, 27, of Newhall, saw Chavero walk in front of his vehicle but was unable to stop before hitting him, authorities said.

Police are investigating the death of a pedestrian who was jaywalking when he was struck by a motor vehicle. Police said the unidentified man was hit about 11:30 p.m. Friday while crossing Harbor Boulevard near 5th Street. The man, who carried no identification, was described as a Latino about 20 years old. The driver of the vehicle has not been arrested, police said.

A woman walking against a red light and outside the crosswalk was struck by a car and killed Tuesday, police said. The victim, who was not identified pending notification of relatives, died at Western Medical Center-Anaheim shortly after the 6:50 a.m. accident on Katella Avenue at Walnut Street, police said. The woman was hit by an eastbound car driven by a 23-year-old Anaheim woman, who was not identified.

An 82-year-old Thousand Oaks woman who was hit by a truck and killed Wednesday evening was jaywalking, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Assunta Defabiis was returning from a trip to the grocery store at 6:05 p.m. when she stepped in front of a truck driven by Robert Feller, 68, of Thousand Oaks. Feller, who was driving east in the 200 block of Wilbur Road, didn't see her, Deputy John Popp said. Defabiis was taken to an area hospital and died two hours later, deputies said.

A man absent-mindedly crossing a Santa Ana street one day was startled abruptly from his reverie by the stern pronouncement from the loudspeaker of a police car: "Do not jaywalk!" A quick retreat to the sidewalk followed. The amplified blast is the sort of warning that tends to stick in the memory. Santa Ana police say the admonition is needed now more than ever.

A 26-year-old Costa Mesa man who had been drinking was struck and killed by a pickup truck late Tuesday as he jaywalked across Baker Street, police said. Narcisco Moreles Montes was pronounced dead at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian at 10:40 p.m., about 40 minutes after he was struck at Baker and Grace Lane. The driver was traveling west on Baker in the left lane when he struck Montes at about 35 mph, Sgt. Richard Bell said.

As the commanding officer of the Los Angeles police division that covers North Hollywood High School, I would like to explain to letter writer Kerry C. Lotts why the LAPD has been citing students for the "ridiculous offense" of jaywalking in the vicinity of North Hollywood High. The North Hollywood area experienced a 60% increase in serious injury and fatal traffic accidents during the first two months of this year. An analysis showed that the majority involved jaywalkers.

A transient sought in the slaying of a Glendale gardener was arrested in Studio City after he jaywalked in front of two officers on the lookout for errant pedestrians, authorities said Friday. Los Angeles police officers Ken Green and Ann McGrew noticed that a jaywalker they intended to ticket at Vineland venue and Ventura Boulevard Thursday matched the composite drawing of a homicide suspect shown at their morning roll call, said Los Angeles Police Capt. Dan Watson.

Here I am at the breakfast table, just another father preaching personal responsibility to a young and impressionable son. "The Lakers," I say, "have a personal responsibility to hire Phil Jackson." "No, they don't," says the boy, who, like a lot of young athletes, believes players matter more than coaches.