Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Photos: Michael Hastings' Fatal Crash Site Is Now A Memorial

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

People have been leaving flowers and notes at the site where Michael Hastings died early Tuesday morning.

The makeshift memorial has sprung up on the fire-scorched median on Highland Avenue between Melrose Avenue and Clinton Street where Hastings' car collided with a tree.

While I was there taking photos, other people stopped by to pay their respects, including one woman who collected broken glass, metal and other wreckage as a souvenir.

Among the notes left were:

Support for LAist comes from

"To: Family. May he rest in peace. I [am] sure he was a good man."

"God bless the young man who passed here. Comfort his family."

"Thank you for being a journalist who had the courage to tell the truth. So many of us have compromised, but your life and your work have inspired this writer to follow in your footsteps."

"I pray your death was an accident and not purposely done by those who didn't like you. To the man who dug for the truth, bless u."

"We will pick up where you left off."

Related:
Video Of Michael Hastings Car Crash, Neighbors Trying To Douse Flames
Coroner Confirms Michael Hastings Died In Fiery Hollywood Crash
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies In Car Accident In L.A.
Driver Dies In Fiery, Early Morning Crash In Hollywood

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist