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Elderly man hit, killed by truck in Palmdale

by The AV Times Staff • January 19, 2015

An 85-year-old man pushing a stroller full of recyclables was hit and killed by a truck Jan. 17 in Palmdale. The man, Jose Portillo, was known as "Don Pepito" in the neighborhood and he was known for collecting recyclables, neighbors said. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
An 85-year-old man pushing a stroller full of recyclables was hit and killed by a truck Jan. 17 in Palmdale. The man, Jose Portillo, was known as “Don Pepito” in the neighborhood, and he was known for collecting recyclables, neighbors said. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

PALMDALE – An 85-year-old man died Saturday evening after he was hit by a truck while crossing the street in Palmdale, authorities said.

Jose Portillo was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. The fatal collision happened around 6:03 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, on Palmdale Boulevard at Pond Avenue, according to Detective Brent Bunch of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

The motorist, 72-year-old Henkin Bernard of Anaheim Hills, was driving a 2003 Toyota Tacoma eastbound on Palmdale Boulevard, Bunch stated.

“A pedestrian walked into the roadway of Palmdale Boulevard… at the intersection of Pond Avenue, crossing from the south curb line into the traffic lanes,” Bunch stated. “Mr. Bernard was unable to stop his vehicle in time and collided into the pedestrian.”

A preliminary investigation indicated that drugs and alcohol were not factors in the collision, according to Bunch. The driver remained at the scene, and no arrests were made in connection with the collision.

Palmdale Boulevard was closed to routine traffic between 30th Street East and 35th Street East until approximately 11:30 p.m. Saturday while the incident was being investigated.

Portillo was known as “Don Pepito” in the neighborhood near Palmdale Boulevard and 30th Street East. He was known for collecting recyclables and storing them in an old stroller, which he pushed throughout the neighborhood on a daily basis, neighbors said.

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Filed Under: Palmdale

18 comments for "Elderly man hit, killed by truck in Palmdale"

  1. new girl says

    February 9, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Awww, he used to collect cans from us. Rest in Peace.

  2. Angel says

    January 20, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Blesses soul such a nice person you will be missed at avcc

  3. callitasitis says

    January 20, 2015 at 9:26 am

    My condolences to the family of this man. It is sad tragedy for both families involved. Please use the crosswalks it is safer for all involved, the speed limit is 50 and it is poorly lighten area at night

    Mis condolencias a la familia de este hombre. Es triste tragedia para ambas familias involucradas. Por favor, utilice los pasos de peatones es más seguro para todos los involucrados, el límite de velocidad es de 50 y es lugar mal aligerar la noche

  4. Gloria Portillo says

    January 19, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    I knew Don Pepe ..he was a very sweet man ..I saw him as my Grampa ..always so cheery regardless of his health ..he was the type of person that didn’t give up ..he was always up in the mornings collecting recycles ..he would say “that was his job”… MY daughter and I had just seen Don Pepe on Thursday..I gave him a big hug and a kiss.. it’s so sad what happened to him ..he will be missed dearly ..especially by his family whom he lived with on Pond Ave.
    May he rest in peace ..we love you Don Pepe

    • Nancy says

      January 20, 2015 at 5:33 pm

      Hi Gloria, I am a friend of Don Pepe. I belong to a ministry called AV hope on the Go. We pass out water in Jesus name among other things. I prayed for him from time to time. I am wondering if you know any of his family members? Just would like to give my condolences to his family and attend his memorial.

  5. carcamom says

    January 19, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    estoy muy triste y desconsolada por la muerte de don pepito era una gran persona y no se metia con nadie, era un ejemplo de superacion y gran trabajador a pesar de su edad

  6. Elizabeth says

    January 19, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    WOW! I am, unfortunately, not surprised by some of these comments. I AM saddened by this loss. My prayers go out to all who are touched by this event. I wish you peace, Amen

  7. lipez says

    January 19, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Real nice guy sad to hear that happened to him will be missed around the shopping mall. Rip.

  8. satie says

    January 19, 2015 at 9:30 am

    If this is who I think it is, he was a patient in our clinic, we all called him Grandpa. He was old but still independent, active, and full of life. He does have family in the area, they’ve been to the clinic with him a couple of times, but he liked to be on his own and do his own thing.

  9. Mark says

    January 19, 2015 at 8:38 am

    Old people killing old people. what the hec?

    • Dust says

      January 19, 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Sorry, but the driver did not kill anybody. The man in the middle of a busy street jaywalking committed suicide, albeit unintentionally. It is sad that he had to die, and I wish it never happened. But may this tragedy bring about a sense of lawful responsibility that encourages people to USE THE CROSSWALK! Especially Palmdale boulevard, where the cops don’t care and people don’t either [about jaywalking].

      • MT says

        January 19, 2015 at 1:53 pm

        It is easy to say when you dont know the person. But a lot of people that age need assistance. A man in his 80’s should never be alone, his family should have taken care of him or given him a caretaker and maybe he wouldn’t be wandering in the streets. Poor man, RIP Don Pepe.

      • Desert Flower says

        January 19, 2015 at 2:04 pm

        Obviously the 72 year old shouldn’t be driving, you don’t just run someone over because they’re jaywalking. Get this irresponsible driver off the road!

        • bird says

          January 19, 2015 at 2:49 pm

          Desert Flower—Armchair investigator already knows all the facts.

        • Jj says

          January 19, 2015 at 7:36 pm

          That area is very dark at night and I’m sure visibility was low. The driver probably didn’t see the jaywalker? Did you think of that?

      • Greg says

        January 20, 2015 at 9:19 am

        That is an intersection and by California law has an unmarked crosswalk area between the corner and the side of the road where he was crossing from. It is not jaywalking. Jaywalking is crossing in the middle of a block between two intersections, especially where there is not a marked crosswalk.

        • callitasitis says

          January 20, 2015 at 2:06 pm

          Please post the California law link, so we all can look at it, Thanks

        • callitasitis says

          January 20, 2015 at 2:17 pm

          @ Greg

          Are you referring to this section? Or another?

          21950. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as other wise provided in this chapter.
          (b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
          (c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.
          (d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from
          the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian
          within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.

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