Six Killed in Holiday Weekend Accidents

Six people were killed in traffic accidents in Los Angeles County over the Memorial Day weekend -- more than double the toll of last year’s holiday weekend -- officials said.

In two incidents, the victims had not buckled their seat belts. Two other cases involved motorcyclists, including one believed to be driving over the speed limit, officials said.

“People still aren’t adhering to all the safety tips we provide,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Tariq Johnson.

The weekend’s high death toll occurred less than a month after the CHP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a new “Click It or Ticket” campaign meant to encourage the use of seat belts.

It is unclear whether the high number of fatalities is a reflection of a greater number of vehicles on the roads, officials said.

In one accident, a 33-year-old West Covina man died after his 2004 Porsche flipped over on the connector road between the southbound 101 Freeway and the eastbound 10 Freeway on Monday at 2:19 p.m. The man was not wearing a seat belt. It was not known what caused the car to roll over.

In a separate incident Monday, a motorcyclist struck a car northeast of Santa Clarita on Bouquet Canyon Road, north of Vasquez Canyon Road. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at 4:03 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. Witnesses said the motorcyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed. His identity has not been released. He collided with a young driver making a U-turn, authorities said.

A 64-year-old woman who was not wearing a seat belt died and two adults and two children were injured about 10 a.m. Sunday when their car crashed on the northbound Golden State Freeway in Santa Clarita. The identities of the victims were not released. The accident occurred after their vehicle’s tire lost its tread, Johnson said. The vehicle struck a raised embankment and overturned.

Officers said a 33-year-old North Hills man was killed about 9:20 p.m. Sunday when his car veered from the northbound traffic lanes of the Pasadena Freeway in Cypress Park and struck a light pole. He lost control for unknown reasons. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives.

A pedestrian died Sunday night when he was struck by a car as he jaywalked in Lancaster, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. He was identified as James Floyd, 58, of Lancaster. The driver was not held.

At 1 a.m. Saturday, a 44-year-old Encino man was killed after his motorcycle collided with a car on Pacific Coast Highway, just south of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

His name has not been released.