Man Found at Bus Stop Died of Hypothermia

The death of a 58-year-old man who was found last week beneath a bus bench in Canoga Park was caused by hypothermia, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office reported Tuesday.

The victim, whose identity has not been released because his family has not been located, was found at 8:15 a.m. Friday beneath a bench in the 18200 block of Sherman Way, police said. Passers-by had reported that the man appeared to be sleeping but might be in danger because of the cold weather. Temperatures in the area had dropped to the low 30s that morning.

The man, who was believed to have been a transient, was unconscious and unresponsive to attempts to revive him. He was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he died a short time later, officials said.

Hypothermia is a condition characterized by subnormal body temperature. The victim’s body temperature was measured at 74 degrees at the hospital, police said.

An autopsy Monday concluded that his death was accidental due to hypothermia, said Pat Smith, a spokeswoman for the coroner’s office.

Cold weather in the Southland last week contributed to at least five other deaths and sent homeless people flocking to shelters in record numbers, authorities said.