This Week In The News (12/16-12/20)

Echo Park Hit-and-Run Crash Leaves Pedestrian Dead; Driver at Large

Friday, December 20 (ABC7) โ€“ Jose Mario Vaquero, 60, was killed after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Echo Park on Thursday morning. The Los Angeles Police Department said the collision was reported before 5:30 a.m. Vaquero had run into traffic at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Douglas Street, while trying to catch a bus to work. A dark-colored Honda was caught on surveillance video before the collision; investigators, who are still looking for the vehicle, say it has tinted windows and possibly severe front-end damage.

Passenger Wounded After Gunfire Erupts on 10 Freeway in El Monte

Thursday, December 19 (CBS Los Angeles) โ€“ A car-to-car shooting on the 10 Freeway Wednesday night wounded a male passenger, whose 22-year-old girlfriend was driving at the time. Their white Toyota was struck by gunfire in a road rage incident. According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident occurred just before 10:00 p.m. as the vehicle traveled westbound on the 10 Freeway, between the 605 Freeway and the Santa Anita Avenue exit. The wounded passenger, whose condition was unknown, was rushed to a local hospital with a gunshot wound.

Truck Driver Describes Intense Winds Pulling His Rig 1,000 Feet Down 118 Fwy in Chatsworth

Tuesday, December 17 (KTLA) โ€“ A truck hauling bubble wrap was picked up by strong winds and dragged 1,000 feet on Tuesday morning. The vehicle landed on its side on the 118 Freeway in Chatsworth. Miguel Bertoglio, who was approaching the De Soto Avenue exit at the time, was able to escape without injury. Santa Ana winds had gusted to 45 mph in the northern San Fernando Valley at the time, the National Weather Service reported, which also caused problems for other truckers in the area. Eastbound traffic was slowed for hours, and the freeway was fully reopened at about 11:00 a.m.

Alston & Bird Hit With $4.7M Verdict in Legal Malpractice Case

Thursday, December 19 (Law.com) โ€“ On December 13, a Fulton County jury awarded $4.7 million to MSouth, a client of law firm Alston & Bird, after finding it liable for legal malpractice. The firm was found to have provided erroneous tax advice and then initiated a cover-up. Sources close to the case say the law firm tried to shift blame to an outside accounting firm, which was not a defendant in the trial. An additional $69,897 was awarded to MSouth that was billed to it by the law firm.

โ€˜Enemy to the Rule of Lawโ€™: House Impeaches Trump, and Senate Braces for Trial

Wednesday, December 18 (Law.com) โ€“ On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him the third president to be impeached. A Senate trial is expected to follow, which is anticipated to acquit the president. The impeachment caps a three-month inquiry into whether the president pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden while withholding military aid. Democrats argue he poses a danger to the country, while Republicans were united in voting against the articles. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly pushing for a short trial, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised the possibility of withholding the articles of impeachment from the Senate.

4 People Badly Hurt in 5-Car Pileup

Thursday, December 19 (Fox 5 San Diego) โ€“ A five-vehicle crash on I-15 in Scripps Ranch on Thursday seriously injured four people. According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on the southbound lanes shortly before 10:00 p.m. All southbound lanes were closed by authorities between 10:10 p.m. and 10:35 p.m. A San Diego Fire-Rescue dispatch supervisor said two victims were taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital and two others to Scrips Mercy Hospital.

U.S. Probes 4 Automakers With Potentially Deadly Takaka Airbags Not Yet Under Recall

Thursday, December 19 (KTLA 5) โ€“ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted documents on Thursday indicating it is investigating Audi, Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi for not recalling 1.4 million Takata air bag inflators in affected vehicles. Takata is now bankrupt. Its inflators have a flaw that can cause a metal canister to blow apart and release shrapnel into peopleโ€™s faces and bodies. The NTSHA believes the vehicles to be recalled involve 1995-2000 model years. Takata has recalled 100 million inflators worldwide installed by at least 19 automakers.

Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett headline Hall of Fame Nominations

Thursday, December 19 (ESPN) โ€“ Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Chris Bosh are among 50 people named as potential inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. The four have a combined 13 NBA championships, four MVP awards, and five NBA Finals MVP awards. Finalists will be announced in February during an All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Inductees will be unveiled in April during the Final Four in Atlanta.

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