LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA — A physician has filed a lawsuit against the City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County after suffering life-altering injuries in a pedestrian collision in November 2024.
The near-fatal crash took place on November 8, 2024, as Dr. Brandon Ishaque walked through the crosswalk at Wilshire Boulevard and 10th Street. According to the lawsuit, filed with attorney Shant Karnikian, Santa Monica had received at least three prior reports warning that the crosswalk’s pedestrian warning lights were malfunctioning—months before a vehicle struck the radiologist.
Dr. Ishaque sustained multiple fractures to his leg, hip, and scapula, air in both lungs, a damaged neck artery, and a devastating injury: a shattered kidney.
Intersection With a Long Record of Serious Crashes
The lawsuit against Santa Monica highlights the dangerous history of this specific crosswalk. In recent years, the intersection has seen more than 20 serious incidents, including crashes resulting in severe injuries and fatalities.
The lawsuit against Santa Monica and Los Angeles County alleges negligence on the part of both public entities, and their failure to maintain the crosswalk in a safe condition despite repeated complaints and a well-documented collision history.
While Santa Monica identifies Wilshire Boulevard as a priority corridor within its Vision Zero initiative—a program aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries—the data paints a troubling picture.
A review of 11 years of collision data found that half of all fatal and severe crashes in Santa Monica occurred on just 10% of the city’s streets, including Wilshire Boulevard.
As part of Vision Zero, the city had installed pedestrian warning lights at the 10th and Wilshire intersection. But Dr. Ishaque argues that these safety features provide little protection if they are not properly maintained or operational.
