Driver Charged in Bus Shelter Death of Boy, 5

VAN NUYS —  A Granada Hills man accused of touching off a chain-reaction traffic accident that killed a 5-year-old boy, and injured the boy’s mother and three other adults, was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor manslaughter, the city attorney’s office said.

The charge was filed against Randy Leroy Ayers, 39, for allegedly making an illegal left turn on May 9 at Devonshire Street and Balboa Boulevard.

Authorities said the turn, made against a yellow light on Devonshire Street in front of an oncoming dump truck, resulted in a collision between Ayers’ Jeep Cherokee and a dump truck driven by a 70-year old Granada Hills man.

The impact caused the 25-ton truck, which was also towing a backhoe, to careen into a traffic standard, a fire hydrant and a signal box before slamming into a bus shelter where it struck Terrance Taylor Watson and his 35-year-old mother, Lucy Taylor.

The boy died at the scene from massive head injuries. His mother, who has two other children, suffered a broken leg.

Also injured were a 60-year-old Lake View Terrace man who suffered multiple fractures and a crushed foot; a North Hollywood woman, 69, who received a concussion, and a 20-year-old Mission Hills man--the driver of a white Buick Regal also involved in the accident--who was treated for back pain.

The charge against Ayers carries a potential penalty of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Explaining the misdemeanor charges, Deputy City Atty. Laura Van Eyk said, “The collision was truly tragic. However, Ayers’ illegal left turn does not rise to the level of ‘gross’ negligence, required for a felony filing.”

Ayers is to be arraigned June 10 in Van Nuys Municipal Court.