On the morning of September 27, 2024, a tragic accident unfolded near Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, just steps from the city of Cerritos. A collision between a school bus and a car set off a chain of events that would lead to the heartbreaking death of a woman riding her bicycle along the sidewalk. This accident has cast a shadow over the local community and brought intense concern about the safety of the busy intersection where the incident occurred.
The accident occurred during the morning school rush, a time when traffic is typically heavy with students, buses, and local residents making their way through the streets. According to early reports, a school bus and a vehicle collided near the high school, causing the car to veer off the road and onto the sidewalk. Tragically, the car struck a woman on her bicycle, killing her on impact.
The name of the victim has not yet been officially released by authorities. However, social media reports began circulating soon after the accident, with eyewitnesses and concerned members of the community sharing their accounts and expressing their shock at the tragedy. In the hours following the accident, many questions remained unanswered. Residents in Lakewood and nearby Cerritos were left to grapple with their grief and anger as they awaited more information from local officials.
An eyewitness to the accident, Darlene Eskarous, took to Facebook to describe what she had seen that morning as she drove back from dropping off her children at school. Eskarous, a local parent, described the scene as harrowing, noting that she had seen the accident happen right in front of Artesia High School. Her words revealed the deep frustration she and others in the community have felt for years about the dangerous traffic conditions in the area.
In her post, Eskarous explained how drivers often recklessly attempt U-turns on the busy Norwalk Boulevard, even during peak traffic hours. She voiced her concerns about the lack of proper traffic enforcement near the school, emphasizing that this wasn’t the first time she had witnessed near-crashes in the area. “It’s so dangerous,” she wrote. “I’ve called the school before because it’s really concerning how bad it is. This isn’t a small street; it’s a busy, busy street, and they need to have code enforcement or something.”
Eskarous’ Facebook post has since gone viral, sparking discussions within the community about the need for immediate action to prevent future accidents at this high-traffic intersection. She questioned why it has taken such a tragic incident to bring attention to a problem that has been ongoing for years. Her concerns reflect the sentiments of many parents in the Lakewood-Cerritos area, who have long worried about the safety of their children traveling to and from Artesia High School. In her post, Eskarous also revealed that these concerns were a significant factor in her decision not to send her own children to Artesia High School, despite it being their designated home school.
While the cause of the accident is still under investigation, the Lakewood community is in mourning, and anger is growing over the lack of preventive measures that could have mitigated such a tragedy. Local residents are now calling on the city and school district to take immediate steps to improve safety around Artesia High School. Suggestions range from increased traffic enforcement to physical changes to the roadways surrounding the school, such as limiting access points or installing barriers to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
Community Outcry and Demands for Action
In the wake of the accident, residents have taken to social media and local forums to share their grief and anger, as well as propose potential solutions to the longstanding traffic issues near Artesia High School. Many expressed their frustration that it took a fatal accident to bring attention to what they see as a preventable tragedy. Several parents noted that they had previously voiced their concerns to school officials and the city but felt that their complaints had fallen on deaf ears.
One parent, Anna Martinez, commented, “It’s heartbreaking to think that this woman lost her life because of something that could have been avoided. We’ve all seen how chaotic the traffic is around Artesia High, especially in the mornings and afternoons when kids are coming and going. There have been so many close calls, and now this. The city needs to do something—put up signs, hire crossing guards, whatever it takes. We can’t let this happen again.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, calling for immediate improvements to pedestrian safety around the school. Some proposed restricting vehicular access to the side of the school where the accident occurred, rerouting traffic to less congested residential streets. Others suggested installing speed bumps, traffic lights, or additional crosswalks to slow down drivers and provide safer passage for students, cyclists, and pedestrians.
For many in the community, this accident represents a tipping point in the long-standing debate over traffic safety near Artesia High School. The intersection of Norwalk Boulevard, where the accident took place, is known to be a particularly busy and hazardous area, with fast-moving traffic and frequent U-turns contributing to the danger. Parents and residents have long feared that the combination of heavy traffic, inexperienced teen drivers, and the lack of enforcement would one day result in a serious accident. Tragically, those fears have now become a reality.
The Impact on Artesia High School
As the news of the fatal accident spread, students and staff at Artesia High School were left in shock. While the identity of the victim has not been officially confirmed, rumors quickly spread on campus that the woman killed in the accident may have been a student. This uncertainty has added to the emotional toll on the school community, as students grapple with the loss and the fear that one of their own may have been involved in the tragic incident.
In response to the accident, Artesia High School’s administration has issued a statement expressing their deep sorrow and offering support to students and staff affected by the tragedy. The school has arranged for grief counselors to be available on campus in the coming days to help students process their emotions and cope with the aftermath of the accident. The school’s principal, Maria Gonzalez, released the following statement:
“We are heartbroken by the tragic accident that occurred near our school this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We understand that this is a devastating event for our school community, and we are doing everything we can to support our students and staff as we navigate through this tragedy together.”
Gonzalez also emphasized the school’s commitment to working with local authorities to address the traffic safety concerns that have been raised in the aftermath of the accident. She noted that the school would be collaborating with the Lakewood City Council, the school district, and local law enforcement to explore potential safety improvements in the area surrounding the campus.
Despite these assurances, many parents remain skeptical that meaningful changes will be made in the wake of the accident. Some fear that the incident will be brushed aside as a one-time tragedy, rather than prompting the urgent action that they believe is necessary to prevent future accidents. “We’ve been talking about these traffic problems for years,” said one parent, “but nothing ever gets done. I just hope this time is different. I hope they actually listen.”
Investigative Efforts and Future Measures
The Lakewood Police Department, in collaboration with local authorities and traffic safety experts, has launched a full investigation into the cause of the accident. Investigators are currently reviewing traffic camera footage, interviewing witnesses, and examining the wreckage of the vehicles involved to determine the precise sequence of events leading up to the collision. The driver of the car, as well as the school bus driver, are cooperating with authorities as they continue their investigation.
While it is too early to draw any definitive conclusions, early reports suggest that the car involved in the collision may have been attempting an illegal U-turn when it struck the bus. If confirmed, this would add further weight to the calls from local residents for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations around Artesia High School.
In addition to the ongoing investigation, local officials are already beginning to explore potential measures to improve traffic safety in the area. The Lakewood City Council has announced that it will be holding a special meeting to discuss possible changes to the roadways surrounding the school. Several proposals are expected to be considered, including the installation of additional traffic lights, the construction of pedestrian barriers, and the expansion of school zone safety measures.
Councilmember David Hernandez, who represents the district where Artesia High School is located, has expressed his commitment to addressing the safety concerns raised by the community. “This is a tragedy that should never have happened,” Hernandez said in a statement. “We owe it to the victim and her family to make sure that something like this never happens again. We will be working closely with the school, the police department, and traffic safety experts to come up with solutions that will make this intersection safer for everyone.”
A Community in Mourning
As the investigation continues and the community begins to grapple with the aftermath of the accident, the sense of grief and loss is palpable. The death of the woman, whose identity is still not publicly known, has left a lasting impact on those who live and work near Artesia High School. For many, this tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of addressing the safety concerns that have been ignored for far too long.
In the coming days, as more information becomes available and the victim’s identity is confirmed, the community of Lakewood will continue to mourn the loss of a life cut short in such a senseless and preventable way. The hope is that this tragedy will serve as a wake-up call, spurring meaningful action to improve safety measures and prevent further accidents from occurring in the future.
For now, residents of Lakewood and Cerritos are left to grieve, reflect, and demand change. They will not let this tragedy be forgotten.
