Updated: Pedestrian critically injured after being struck by motorist survives

Updated Apr. 26 4:45 p.m.

La Mirada-  A pedestrian attempting to cross a dark area of highway mid-block suffered life-threatening injuries after being hit by a passing vehicle late Wednesday night.

The man was struck in the southbound lanes about 200 feet north of Imperial Hwy near the point where the driveway where AutoZone is located.

Paramedics rushed the man to the trauma unit at UCI Medical Center in Orange in critical condition. 

Both traffic lanes of southbound La Mirada Blvd will remain closed for several more hours to allow sheriff's traffic investigators to process the scene.

***Update Apr 26***  Rushed with life-threatening injuries to a local trauma unit the man has put up a successful fight to survive after undergoing emergency surgery shortly after arriving at the hospital according to a sheriff's spokesperson. 

Paramedics quickly assessed the unidentified man's condition and rushed him to UCI Medical Center the regional trauma center closest to La Mirada located on City Drive/State College Blvd just off Interstate-5.

The man arrived at the hospital about 35 minutes after the accident which is well within the 'golden hour' standard where that offers the best chance of survival.

The accident remains under investigation.

Community pillar Pat Ruiz dies

Pat Ruiz
Photo Source: La Mirada
Symphony

La Mirada-  When a locally well-known person passes away it
usually is not difficult to summarize briefly what it was that made them noteworthy. It's hard to do that in the case of Pat Ruiz.

Pat Ruiz, best known for her passion for music and contributions to local education passed away last Thursday. 

A news release issued by the La Mirada Symphony Association where she served as past President and a Director sums up her contributions best calling her life 'A Legacy of Music and Education'.

Ruiz, a resident of La Mirada since 1956, attended La Verne College where she graduated with a Master's Degree in childhood education before starting a teaching and music consultant career that spanned 26 years from 1967-1993 at Escalona Elementary. 

After teaching, she went on to win election twice to the board of Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board, serving there from 1993-2001.

Ruiz also served as a member of the city Human Service Commission, the La Mirada Kiwanis, and Ebell's Service Club.

What a Glorious Feeling! at the La Mirada Theatre with the Friday opening of Singin' in the Rain

La Mirada-  An indoor rainstorm? Audiences will see one firsthand when the newest Broadway Series theatre production from McCoy-Rigby Entertainment, 'Singin' in the Rain' opens at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts on Friday, April 19.

Directed by choreographer Spencer Liff, the setting is 1920's Hollywood, during the transition at movie studios from the silent era to talkies, launching the Golden Era of on-screen musicals.

Audiences will be treated to each musical routine which has been adapted from the original 1952 screenplay.

Tickets for Singin' which runs through Sunday, May 12 range from $17- 94, with some seats available for full time-students with I.D. from $14.

Tickets are available online, by phone, or at the box office.

lamiradatheatre.com  (714) 994-6310 or (562) 944-9801

La Mirada council elects new Mayor and Pro-Tem

La Mirada-  The La Mirada city council selected Steve De Ruse as its new mayor during its annual reorganization Tuesday evening and councilmember John Lewis was chosen to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem. Traditionally the Pro-Tem will become the new mayor when the council reorganizes next April.

De Ruse, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Artesia was first elected to the city council in 2011.

Mayor Pro-Tem John Lewis an attorney, and Managing Partner at the Law Office of Lewis & Lewis based in La Mirada enters the third of a five-year term on the council. 


Lewis previously served on the city Planning Commission from 2012 until winning election to represent council District #1 covering the northwest section of the city including the Foster Park, Gardenhill Park, and neighborhoods near Biola University.

Mr. De Ruse, who had been elected to serve as the La Mirada Mayor during his first term takes over for councilmember Larry Mowles who had held the seat for the past year.

The fondness that runs deep in the community for Mr. Mowles was on display in the many sincere thanks and accolades offered by those in attendance and were perhaps portrayed best in a light-hearted pictorial narrated by Mayor Pro-Tem John Lewis as Bobblehead Mayor Mowles traveled around the city giving a 'thumbs up' at each stop.

Speed limit increased

The city council reviewed the results of a recently completed traffic survey from which speed limits are established from approving one change.

The speed limit will be lowered on Firestone Blvd. North from Knott Avenue to Phoebe Avenue from 45 to 40.  The change is based on conditions in the area have caused free-flowing traffic to travel at a lower speed.


Will it really indoors?

Spoiler Alert: It will rain on stage during performances of  'Singin in the Rain' opening Friday, April 19 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts produced by McCoy-Rigsby Entertainment.