Councilman's Son, Struck in Crosswalk, Braces for More Surgery

The son of La Cañada Flintridge City Councilman David Spence underwent another surgery Monday, two weeks after a truck struck him at Foothill and La Cañada boulevards.  

Andy Spence, 45, was recovering as best as could be expected from the operation, the elder Spence said, adding Andy has been at Huntington Memorial Hospital since the Feb. 11 accident.  Andy Spence, a La Cañada resident, will undergo skin grafting Friday, which his father called a “very painful’’ procedure.

“It’s pretty rough,’’ David Spence said Monday. “Doctors seem optimistic about his recovery,’’ which will include another two weeks in the hospital and further rehabilitation to learn to walk again.

Traffic Sgt. Mark Slater of the , said eyewitnesses reported that Spence strode through a crosswalk on a green light just after 5 p.m., when North Hollywood resident Ambartsum Harry Jerejian turned westbound on Foothill Boulveard from southbound La Cañada Boulevard.

The driver told police the sun was in his eyes, but he continued through the intersection, according to the police report. Jerejian heard screaming and people yelling, “Don’t move,’’ the report states.

Jerejian got out of his 2005 Toyota Tundra and saw Spence lying on the ground, between the tires. The driver helped Spence to the curb and called 911, the report states. Tire tracks marked the upper top of Spence’s right leg, Slater said.

While there was no intent to commit a crime, Slater said, Jerejian may be cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian, as he allegedly continued driving despite being unable to determine if the intersection was clear. But Slater has not yet interviewed Andy Spence, so as of Monday, Jerejian had not been cited, he said, adding it appears Andy doesn’t remember much from the incident.

Councilwoman Laura Olhasso said Monday that she and a number of other folks have offered to organize dinners for the Spence family in the short term, as well as supply rides to physical therapy in the long term.

 “We are all ready and primed to help when and if it is needed,’’ she said.