Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is asking for a “full accounting” from Metro about an August bus crash in Rancho Palos Verdes that took the life of 24-year-old Dylan Lupia, grandson of the late actor Michael Landon.
“Dylan’s mother, Shawna Landon, says that the Metro bus operator did not stop or call 9-1-1 when the collision occurred, and instead drove over a mile to the next Metro bus stop,” according to a statement from Hahn’s office.
Hahn, who also serves on the Metro Board of Directors, released a letter she sent to Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins asking for a full accounting for what happened to Lupia. She asked for an update to be presented during the Oct. 27 board meeting.
2UrbanGirls doesn’t recall Hahn expressing the same “outrage” for the numerous fatalities involving either Metro buses or rail in areas outside of her district especially when a pedestrian was struck and killed by a Metro train this summer in the city of Hawthorne. There was no public demand of a “full accounting” of that pedestrians death.
Related: Pedestrian fatally struck by Metro train in Hawthorne
There was also no public outrage from Hahn’s office when a pedestrian was hit by a Metro bus in the Pico-Union area in May.
“I am writing you regarding the Metro bus-involved collision that occurred the evening of Wednesday, August 17, in Rancho Palos Verdes along Palos Verdes Drive South between Hawthorne Boulevard and Terranea Way,” Hahn wrote.
” … I cannot imagine the pain this mother is going through. As a member of the Metro Board of Directors, I am asking for a full accounting for what happened to Dylan. We need to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.”
“Metro extends our thoughts and prayers to the family of Dylan Lupia during this difficult time. We are continuing to work closely with our law enforcement partners and our internal team to investigate this tragic bus accident and determine exactly what occurred.
Safety is the top priority at Metro. We ask for the public’s help in providing any information they may have regarding this accident. Anyone who might have been in the area with relevant information should please call LASD at 323-563-5000. Transit riders can also anonymously report information on this incident or others by calling 888-950-SAFE (7233) or using Metro’s Transit Watch smartphone app available for both iPhone and Android.”
Jose Ubaldo of Metro Media Relations
According to ABC7, Lupia was fatally injured by a Metro bus as he walked in the bike lane of the roadway.
“How could you not see that you hit someone? How could you not see that you hit a human being and then just leave him on the side of the road?” Shawna Landon told the station. “There’s no possible way he [the bus driver] couldn’t see him coming, walking towards him, and to not pull over and stop or call 911 … It’s not humane. It’s unfathomable.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told ABC7 it is awaiting reports from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office and has not ruled out a criminal case.
Landon’s attorney, Robert Barta, told ABC7 the Metro bus was equipped with nine cameras and a black box, but he is still waiting for access to that evidence. Barta said there is a possible witness.
“There was a passenger on the bus,” Barta said. “We’re hoping that with this coverage by the news media we can track down this passenger on the bus.”
Barta is asking that person or anyone with information about the case to call his law office at 310-479-1454.
2UrbanGirls contributed to this report.
