Rear End

A suspected drunk driver rear-ended a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department car Thursday night, dazing the deputy inside, authorities said. The deputy had stopped a vehicle on a freeway ramp and was preparing to exit his cruiser when a car driven by Ammon Aiono, 27, of Lynwood slammed into the squad car, authorities said. Authorities said there was an open 18-ounce beer in his car cup holder. The incident occurred at 10:30 p.m. on a northbound 605 Freeway onramp north of East Carson Street.

A bus shuttling 49 jail inmates from court back to their cells was involved in a freeway crash Friday that tied up traffic for hours, authorities said. The Orange County sheriff's bus was en route from Harbor Municipal Court in Newport Beach to jails in Santa Ana and Orange when it rear-ended a car on the northbound Costa Mesa Freeway near MacArthur Boulevard, officials said. One inmate suffered a cut on his head in the 5:27 p.m. crash, said Sheriff's Lt. Richard Paddock.

Two sisters who had just witnessed their mother give birth to twins were killed in a fiery collision after their car was rear-ended by a suspected drunken driver, authorities said Sunday. About 8:50 p.m.

The day of our first rain this season, I had my first auto accident. The jolt to the car was significant, but even more so was the education I got. The Toyota Corolla I was driving, with my mother as passenger, was rammed by another Corolla. The impact mangled the rear of the car, pushing most of the metal into the trunk. Almost before the cars stopped rocking, people were pushing business cards for auto body shops through the car windows and offering to "help."

Two bus passengers and a motorist were injured Thursday when a car rear-ended an OCTA bus on Beach Boulevard near Stanton Avenue, police said. None of their names were released. The accident occurred about 2:15 p.m. after the bus had made a stop, said Lt. Steve Holliday, a spokesman for the Buena Park Police Department. The driver of the car was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries to her legs, Holliday said, while the bus passengers were treated and released.

A pregnant mother of five was killed when a car allegedly driven by her boyfriend rammed the car she was in, police said. Marie Claudie Francois, 30, was traveling home with a friend Saturday when the car was hit from behind and sent crashing into a wall, police said. Louis Innocent, 21, was charged with first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. He was being held Sunday on $500,000 bail pending his arraignment today.

A San Juan Capistrano man was killed early Friday when the pickup truck he was riding in rear-ended a crane truck on Interstate 5, officials said. Alfonso Gonzalez, 56, died at the scene. Driver Hector Gonzalez, 36, also of San Juan Capistrano, remains hospitalized. It was unclear if the two men were related. Neither was wearing a seat belt, police said. The pickup was northbound near Junipero Serra Road about 1:10 a.m. when, for an unknown reason, the collision occurred.

Question: I really want to firm up my rearview for spring break in Mexico, but I can't run or do any high-impact exercise. What do you recommend? --R.R. Chatsworth Answer: Why don't you just walk? The American Council on Exercise's recent survey of more than 36,000 certified fitness professionals found that walking up hills (on a treadmill or outside) is one of the most recommended ways to tone and strengthen the gluteals.

A driver was killed Monday when her car was struck by a tractor-trailer after she slowed in backed-up traffic on northbound Interstate 15 in Rancho Cucamonga, authorities said. The accident occurred about 12:40 p.m. near the Foothill Boulevard offramp an area that has become increasingly congested because of new housing and businesses nearby, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Tony Nguyen. "We've been [having] a lot of rear-enders," he said.

Question: I have heard that the federal government is going to require auto manufacturers to install an additional brake light on the rear of all cars. After having been rear-ended recently, this sounds like a good idea. Can I install such a light on my car?--J.W. Answer: You are correct that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is going to require a high-mounted, rear brake light on all new cars sold in the United States after Sept. 1.