Woman Fatally Struck by SUV on Downtown Los Angeles Freeway Interchange
A 30-year-old woman was killed early today after being hit by a Lexus SUV on a transition road connecting two major Los Angeles freeways.
The collision occurred at 4:33 a.m. on the transition from the eastbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway to the northbound Harbor (110) Freeway. According to California Highway Patrol Officer Erik Larson, officers responding to the scene found the pedestrian near the freeway divider. The victim was reportedly walking across lanes when a white Lexus RX 350 struck her. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.
The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner has identified the deceased as Kathryn Gerdes. Her city of residence has not yet been released. This incident highlights the dangers pedestrians face when attempting to navigate busy freeway corridors. Traffic was significantly impacted for several hours, with a Sigalert closing three lanes of the transition road; all lanes reopened at 8:25 a.m. You can find more information about freeway safety on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
The CHP is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. For updates on traffic incidents in the Los Angeles area, visit our Traffic section.
Authorities have not released further details at this time.
