General Jeff on December 03, 2009, at 10:52AM – #1

WOW! I was on 5th street, near the police station, speaking to some folks and observing the community when the limo drove right by where we were standing. I thought it was debris or a good-sized piece of cardboard that was being dragged. I tried to notify the driver , but they just kept on going.

I was shocked to find out moments later that instead it was a human body being dragged under that car.

Don't know yet if it's somebody we know, but even still, to see some of it take place leaves a lot on one's mind. Especially when my mind replays the continuous screeching sound that the "cardboard" made from grinding on the asphalt as it went past.

Legman on December 03, 2009, at 12:01PM – #2

Your photo shows this drama ended in front of the King Eddy, our favorite Downtown gin mill which I've written about here: http://legmanla.com/post/267987991/the-king-eddy-saloon-where-charles-bukowski-and

Veronica M. on December 03, 2009, at 12:23PM – #3

Ah, I was wondering what all the sirens/helicopters were for.

george on December 03, 2009, at 05:29PM – #6

Death Limo for Cutie

CynicL on December 03, 2009, at 06:09PM – #7

Must be more fallout from the welfare payday drug mania in this area.

nanorich on December 03, 2009, at 06:17PM – #8

It doesn't go unnoticed that there has absolutely no acknowledgment that a human being died last night in a terrifying and horrible way.

But as others have said before....when it comes to Downtown, it seems that the nice middle class people of loftville approach these tragedies as "No Human Involved."

Oscar on December 04, 2009, at 07:07AM – #9

I hate Christmas.

Jasmijn on December 04, 2009, at 10:28AM – #10

Oh, horrible. Poor thing. What a terrifying, painful way to die.

AL on December 05, 2009, at 05:27AM – #11

I'm trying to figure out how this happened- how do you go from arguing to to being dragged by a car for a half mile? Was she willingly holding on to the car? Was she tied to the car and if so, how did that happen? It sounds terrible.

General Jeff on December 05, 2009, at 11:38AM – #12

AL, from what I could see, the woman being dragged was not tied to the car. She was completely below the front bumper, towards the driver's side of the car ( left side).

It was really dark at 1a.m., but my best guess is that either a piece of her clothing got caught somewhere in the front part of the car ( like the grill, hood or bumper) which would have prevented her from moving or it was simply because the car wasn't driving fast enough to completely roll over the body and the front, left tire acted as a pushbroom to where the body neither got swept to the left or right, but remained in the same place. I'm no expert. but the car was traveling at no more than twenty miles an hour, twenty-five tops.

From what I overheard that was said by police officers, was that the two women had an argument, the one woman left and came back moments later in a car and ran the victim over and continued driving.

Either way, I'm just like you, it doesn't make a whole lotta sense and I was there to see it! (Well, some of it)

General Jeff on December 05, 2009, at 11:52AM – #13

In all actuality, I feel really bummed out about this.

Later that morning, I read online that the woman was still alive when the officers stopped the car at 5th and Los Angeles, but was pronounced dead once the paramedics arrived on scene.

I can't help but think that had I known it was a person under the car and not cardboard or debris as I first thought, I might have been able to do more and that might have been enough to save that woman's life.

As a community activist in Skid Row, part of my psyche is that I truly think that I can save everybody here.

This woman's death shatters my entire belief system.

May she forever rest in peace.

milquetoast on December 06, 2009, at 04:57AM – #14

Generally it's either an arm or a leg that gets jammed ino the engine compartment or over the front axle.

AL on December 06, 2009, at 06:14AM – #15

General Jeff,

Thank you for the information. I was picturing something altogether different. The truth is worse than what I had imagined. Seeing something like that is reasonably traumatic. Because you are altruistic, it is especially hard for you- OF COURSE you would have liked to help. Please do not beat yourself up or let it ruin your belief system- how could you have possibly known that was a person?? You witnessed a tragedy mixed with evil- there's no way to be unaffected. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself.

J on December 06, 2009, at 04:18PM – #16

To those thinking their quips about this are clever, you really are just a bunch of base assholes. Check yourself.

Reality on December 06, 2009, at 06:58PM – #17

Don't hate the commentators, hate the driver/drug dealer/psycho who is now safely behind bars.

tl on December 08, 2009, at 11:15AM – #18

J your judgement of them makes you a smaller person.

e. on December 08, 2009, at 12:07PM – #19

J is right on. Calling out assholes does not make one a "smaller person".

tl on December 08, 2009, at 04:04PM – #20

e: well that's just your opinion, man. why don't you continue going around waiving that self-righteous banner of yours like you never said anything bad before. yes, judging other people does make you a smaller person by holding yourself higher and better than that person while you throw around the a-hole word. now, that's not nice, is it?

General Jeff on December 09, 2009, at 08:38AM – #21

Al,

Thank you for the kind words. I will try and do just as you suggest and not let this tragedy affect me too much.

With so many other things to to worry about in Skid Row, it is both shocking and extremely unusual for someone to die this way.

J on December 10, 2009, at 09:17PM – #22

tl:

your assessment of judging is also only your opinion

and no, being an asshole isn't nice.... which is why they're called assholes

your dream catcher needs a few more feathers