On Sunday afternoon in early June, the first weekend of immigration enforcement work in Los Angeles, the crowds of protests swelled, and agetators joined the protesters, making dramatic moments broadcast around the world a symbol of anxiety.
The 101 busiest highways in the country became flashpoints as California’s highway patrol cruisers were attacked from above.
Aviation footage showed officers being pinned and unable to move, with concrete, full-size scooters, and a blazing chunk of projectiles from Main Street elevated onto the highway and fiery projectiles.
The other lanes of the highway, just within foot distance, remained open as chaos deployed on the other side.
Following last night’s immigration attack protest, protesters throw things at California Highway Patrol vehicles on the 101 highway as officers are hiding under an elevated track near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Following last night’s immigration raid protest, a California highway patrol vehicle will be burned on Sunday, June 8, 2025 on the 101 highway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Eds Note: Obscenity follows last night’s immigration raid protest, a flash bomb explodes on the 101 highway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Following last night’s immigration attack protest, protesters throw things at California Highway Patrol vehicles on the 101 Expressway on Sunday, June 8, 2025, as officers are covered under an elevated track near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Sayer)
According to the California Highway Patrol, 24 patrol vehicles were damaged during anxiety, three of which were destroyed beyond repairs. The highway was closed for hours to clean up.
A key factor in the destruction was the lack of chain link safety fencing on over 101 main street overpasses.
While many assume that such fencing is standard on all overpasses, Cartlan, the agency that oversees the California highway system, admits that only one side of the main street elevated track is equipped with fencing. The other side has been made easy access to the following target vehicles, while still unprotected.
Caltrans’s proprietary design guidelines state that “handrails are useful for both safety and aesthetic functions,” while fence-type barriers “reduce the risk of objects being dropped on the roads below.”
These barriers can potentially save lives, not only prevent protest-related incidents.
Records obtained by KTLA from the Los Angeles Fire Department show that the LAFD responded to cases of at least 24 individuals in situations where they were under threat to harm due to bridges of downtown elevated overpasses on 110 and 101 highways since 2023.
The record doesn’t specify which overpasses are involved, but some people may lack protective fencing.
When asked specifically about the elevated tracks on Main Street, Caltrans said it has added chain link fencing to numerous elevated tracks in recent years. In particular, the sidewalk runs adjacent to the barrier. Additional upgrades are planned to the other elevated railways over the next few years.
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