One Life Claimed in Fatal Traffic Collision

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, July 6, 1999
On Monday, July 5, 1999 at approximately 8:45 AM a fatal traffic collision occurred at Normandie Avenue and Monroe Street in the City of Los Angeles.

Mr. Siam Budneam a 21 year old male Taiwanese was driving a blue 1992 Honda Civic southbound Normandie Avenue at a high rate of speed, when he attempted to swerve in a eastbound direction around a vehicle that was negotiating a left hand turn from the northbound lane of traffic on Normandie Avenue to the northbound on-ramp to the 101 Freeway. Mr. Budneam lost control of his vehicle as he attempted this maneuver, causing his vehicle to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction while sliding in a southeasterly direction until it collided with the east curb. Mr. Budneam’s vehicle continued sliding in a south bound direction where it collided with the south-east curb of Normandie Avenue and Monroe Street, ran off the roadway and collided with a 63 year old male Filipino resident of Los Angeles who was walking northbound on the east sidewalk of Normandie Avenue.

As a result of this collision the pedestrian was thrown in an upward direction, landing on the south sidewalk of Monroe Street just east of Normandie Avenue. Mr. Budneam’s vehicle continued to travel in a southbound direction where it collided with a concrete block retaining wall. This collision caused Mr. Budneam’s vehicle to rotate in a clock-wise direction and travel in a northeasterly direction where it came to rest facing in an eastbound direction on Monroe Street. The pedestrian sustained extensive head trauma and was transported to USCMC Hospital by rescue ambulance, where he later demised from his injuries. Mr. Budneam was determined to be driving under the influence and was arrested and booked for vehicular manslaughter. The name of the pedestrian has been withheld pending the notification of his family.

For further information in regards to this matter, please contact Detective Kaden at 213-485-3111, or Central Traffic Collision’s, Watch Commander at 213-485-3122.

For Release 9:10 am PDT
July 6, 1999