Project Safe Streets News Conference on the 6th Street Viaduct NR22350mp

Los Angeles: On November 22, 2022, Central Bureau, Central Traffic Division, and Central Area Commanding Officers conducted a news conference on the 6th Street Viaduct Bridge.

Key speaker Lily Trujillo-Puckett with Street Racing Kills shared the story of her 16-year-old daughter, Valentina, who was tragically killed when the driver of a vehicle in which she was a passenger, participated in street racing activity. Lily urged the community to end illegal side shows and street racing in hopes of saving other innocent lives.

Doug Shupe with the Automobile Club of Southern California also spoke during the news conference. Doug reminded the public that millions of drivers will take to the roads this holiday season; drivers should be cautious not to drive intoxicated or “intexticated.”

Captain Elaine Morales, Central Area Commanding Officer and Captain Yvonne Ortiz, Central Traffic Division spoke on the importance of safe driving and stressed that additional resources that will be deployed during the holiday season to conduct enforcement actions against those who may be at an illegal side show or street race.

Sergeant Arnold Castellanos, Central Traffic Division Street Racing Task Force, spoke about the dangers of street racing and side shows and the arrests that have been made in effort to end illegal
activities on our public streets.

Drivers are reminded, if they find themselves in the middle of a side show or street racing takeover, try to leave the area, call 9-1-1, and report the incident from a safe distance. Do not interfere with the illegal activities and do not leave your vehicle. Do not confront those who may be participating in the illegal activity.

If anyone has information regarding the vehicles or people involved in an illegal street race or side show, please contact Central Traffic Division at (213) 833-3746 or telephone the 24-hour toll free
number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). For anonymous telephone calls, please call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org, or
Tipsters www.lapdonline.org.
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