Updated 6:13 p.m.
A motorcyclist, who witnesses described speeding upwards of 80 mph, was killed Tuesday morning in a collision with a Big Blue Bus on Sunset Boulevard and Marquez Avenue in Pacific Palisades.
Palisades Patrol reported the motorcyclist was pinned underneath the bus. There were no passengers aboard.
Since the original publication of this article, the victim's name has been released.
The Santa Monica city bus was headed to its first stop from a layover on Route 9 and made a left-hand turn onto Sunset from Marquez when it collided with the bike about 10:50 a.m., according to Big Blue Bus spokeswoman Suja Lowenthal.
At the scene, detective Brent Johnson of LAPD's West Traffic Division said witnesses described the motorcycle heading west on Sunset at speeds upwards of 80 miles per hour. Later by phone, Sgt. Ben Zucker said more than one witness told investigators the motorcyclist ran a red light on Sunset.
"The light for westbound Sunset was red," Zucker said. "The bus made a legal left hand turn and [other] cars stopped."
Zucker said buses are allowed to make left hand turns at the intersection. Marquez Avenue splits into two roads for vehicles turning east or west onto Sunset and the bus was at a stop sign on the westbound turn road. Zucker said the bus was turning from that southwesterly direction stop sign and attempting to go east on Sunset when it collided with the motorcycle.
Sunset Boulevard was closed in both directions following the morning accident.
The bus was heavily damaged, with shattered glass visible on the driver's side.
The Big Blue Bus is operated by the city of Santa Monica. Its fleet runs routes across a 52-square-mile service area that stretches from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles.
"This is not in any way common," said Lowenthal. "It’s extremely tragic, and thankfully rare."
The city's transit department will conduct an internal investigation, separate from the LAPD, she said.
Santa Monica Patch Editor Jenna Chandler contributed to this report.
I know that intersection very well and buses are required to turn left out of the right turn lane which is NOT signal controlled. Between the almost blind curve to the right for the cars travelling east on Sunset and the motorists speeding west on their left, it creates a very hazardous turn for the bus. That bus route west should move onto Livorno Dr from Sunset and Marquez (1), that way the left turn back onto Sunset east from Marquez (2) can be made from the appropriate intersection with a traffic signal.
"The light for westbound Sunset was red," Zucker said. "The bus made a legal left hand turn and [other] cars stopped." Zucker said buses are allowed to make left hand turns at the intersection.
What I speculate is that Patrick anticipated the bus to head west bound as well, not make that awkward left hand turn. Also to clarify and hopefully you can update, he is a native of West Virginia, not Van Nuys.