A man was captured on camera violently attacking and throwing a random woman on a busy freeway in front of incoming heavy traffic as the woman desperately battled against the vehicles that almost took her life.
The incident happened on August 7 at the Los Angeles Metro station in Pasadena around 5:30 a.m., where 33-year-old Juan Pablo Flores mercilessly beat and dragged the victim off the train tracks before throwing her into the middle of the road, where multiple cars nearly ran over her.
The Los Angeles Police arrested the suspect shortly after the dreadful incident, and he has now been charged with multiple crimes, including attempted murder. He is still in police custody with his bond set at $2 million, and he now faces up to life in prison.
According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, the victim had to go to the hospital as she suffered multiple injuries, such as broken bones and deep lacerations, which required extensive medical attention. The Sheriff’s office further added that the woman can also suffer from “long-term disfigurement.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón condemned the chilling incident, stating that every individual has a complete right to live their life free from such threats. He went on to say that the LA authorities will deal with these dangerous criminals seriously and bring them to justice.
The LA County Supervisor, Janice Hahn, who also led the LA Metro Board of Directors, argued that they are conducting a proper investigation to see the security loopholes that resulted in the near-fatal incident.
Meanwhile, community members believe that the disturbing incident of violence against the metro rider is not an isolated one in LA. One young mother, Nandi Hughes, who mostly uses the train to commute to her job, stated that even if she feels safe in public, she has to keep her eyes open and observe what is happening around her.
Another local, Dana Terrace, who also uses public transit daily, noted that she finds these facilities safely but prefers to avoid them in the dark.
Safety for Metro riders has become a common concern in LA, with activities and local politicians also focusing on increasing police presence in these facilities to avoid such incidents. In June this year, LA authorities passed a plan under which the city would invest $193 million per year to improve the security situation at public transit facilities.
