Traffic Officer Dies 4 Days After Being Hit by Car
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A veteran city traffic officer died four days after he was struck by a car while impounding an illegally parked vehicle in Hollywood.
Henry Medina, 47, who died Tuesday, became the first traffic officer in the history of the Los Angeles Transportation Department to die of injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Medina, who is survived by his wife and 13-year-old son, was waiting for a car to be towed from a rush-hour no-parking zone when he was hit. Police say a car driven by Mark Katz, 57, of Los Angeles veered right, sideswiping a Department of Transportation vehicle, striking Medina and finally pinning tow truck operator Larry Jaramillo against his vehicle.
Jaramillo, 37, was hospitalized with fractured legs. Medina died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Police said an investigation of the accident was continuing and it was unclear if any charges would be filed against Katz, who told police he either fell asleep at the wheel or briefly passed out.
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