2 Dead Because Of Dangerous Roscoe Boulevard Intersection, Lawsuit Alleges

LOS ANGELES, CA — A West Hills woman whose mother and sister were killed when an SUV hit them as they walked across a street sued the city of Los Angeles Thursday, alleging the intersection was negligently designed and controlled.

Jennifer Deiuliis' Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit only deals with the death of her mother, 69-year-old Pia Botz, and not that of her sibling, 31- year-old Erica Botz.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

Erica Botz and the family's dog, a Labrador retriever, died at the scene of the accident, which occurred about 8:20 p.m. last April 11 at Roscoe Boulevard and Jason Avenue in West Hills. Pia Botz died later at a hospital.

A Subaru Forester was traveling westbound on Roscoe at about 40 mph when it struck the West Hills residents, who were walking their pet in a crosswalk, according to the lawsuit.

The driver stopped at the scene and spoke to investigators, saying it was dark and that he did not see the victims, police said previously. The motorist was not cited and police called the deaths "a tragic accident."

The lawsuit states that the speed limit is 40 mph on both Roscoe and Jason, and the intersection is unsafe because the lighting is poor and it lacks both a traffic signal and signs warning drivers they are nearing a crosswalk.

Some residents of the area told reporters at the time of the accident that motorists often speed on Roscoe. They suggested that improvements be made at the intersection to make it safer for people to cross.

City News Service; Photo: Google Earth