Makeshift Memorial Remains on Figueroa More Than 1 Year After Fatal Crash

The makeshift memorial has been on Figueroa Street in Eagle Rock underneath the 134 Freeway for a long time.

Some of the vases have been knocked over, and few others are broken, but it still remains in amazingly good condition more than a year after four people were killed in the spot on Aug. 12, 2012.

A minivan reportedly blew a tire, sending it over the edge of the the bridge, where it crashed onto Figueroa 35 feet below, killing four members of a family from La Puente. 

I don't know if it was put up just after the accident, or months later, but I do remember spotting it several months ago. I passed the memorial again on Tuesday, stopped and got out, curious what it was. But as soon as I got closer, I remembered the story from last summer. Who could forget such a horrific tragedy? Killed were Veronica Ramirez, 38, her husband Salvador Ramirez, 40, their daughter Jackelyn Ramirez, 11, and Salvador's father, Rafael Ramirez-Rodriguez, 59. 

It's quite amazing that the makeshift memorial of flowers and a photo have remained at the site so long after the incident. One would think that a city cleaning crew would have eventually picked it up, or that some thoughtless jerk would have simply destroyed it, as thoughtless jerks always seem to do. 

I had never actually been to the place of the accident before. Thirty five feet sounds like a short distance when you read it, but to stand on the ground and look up... it sent chills down my spine. 

Read past Eagle Rock Patch stories about the crash here:

Fatal Crash on 134 Freeway in Eagle Rock (PHOTOS)

Fourth Passenger in Sunday's 134 Freeway Crash Dies (UPDATE)