Cal State Northridge Student Erick Barbosa-Guardado Died In Northridge Police Pursuit Car Accident By The Intersection of Lindley Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard
NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA (February 18, 2023) – A Cal State Northridge sophomore identified as Erick Barbosa-Guardado died in a Northridge police pursuit accident.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the collision took place early Thursday morning. LAPD officers attempted to pull over an SUV sought in connection with an armed robbery.
The driver of the SUV did not pull over and a pursuit was initiated. Shortly after the pursuit began the SUV went through a red light on Roscoe Boulevard before hitting a vehicle driven by Erick Barbosa-Guardado.
Photos of the accident showed both vehicles with severe damage. Police eventually apprehended one suspect who attempted to flee the scene on foot. A second suspect remains at large.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Sadly, Erick Barbosa-Guardado was pronounced dead at the scene. He was studying civil engineering at CSUN.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Northridge Police Pursuit Accidents
Far too many people are killed or seriously injured every year in police pursuits. According to one report by Newsweek, “Since 1979, more than 5,000 bystanders have been killed during police pursuits in the U.S., according to HG.org, one of the world’s largest legal resource sites, which cited a study that said police pursuits are the most dangerous activities in law enforcement.” An estimated 27% of the people killed in police pursuits are innocent bystanders. There are a number of factors that police officers in LA County must consider when deciding to initiate a pursuit. Officers and supervisors should consider:
- Whether vehicular or pedestrian safety is unreasonably compromised.
- The traffic conditions prior to the pursuit.
- The nature of the area where the pursuit took place.
- The seriousness of the crime and its relationship to community safety.
Police officers in California should only use police pursuits as a measure of last resort. In general, suspects should only be pursued when they have committed a violent felony and are an active danger to the public. When officers engage in a pursuit, they must use their lights and sirens to warn the public as outlined in California Vehicle Code 2800.1. Depending on the facts of any case, a police department could face civil liability for an accident during a police pursuit.
Pursuant to California Vehicle Code §17004.7(b)(1), a public agency employing police officers must adopt and promulgate a written policy on police pursuit guidelines. Officers must also receive regular and periodic training on an annual basis regarding police policies. When a police department fails to promulgate its police policies to officers, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. See, for example, Morgan v. Beaumont Police Department (2016) 246 Cal. App. 4th 144. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any police pursuit accident.
- All footage from officers involved in the pursuit should be examined.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
Far too often, police officers engage in dangerous pursuits when better options are available. The family of any innocent bystander killed in a pursuit may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, police departments will often fight hard to avoid being held accountable for fatal police pursuit collisions.
Investigating A Northridge Police Pursuit Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Erick Barbosa-Guardado. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for what happened. It is our sincere hope that the state legislature will consider major reforms to help prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Northridge police pursuit accident? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
