INSIDE
Waymo Appeals Ban on Overnight Operations at Santa Monica Charging Lots smmirror.com
August 7 – August 13, 2026 Volume CXXIII Issue 214
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Trapped truck driver rescued following highimpact crash into Pacific Palisades building Firefighters deploy heavy hydraulic equipment during intense two-hour extraction along Pacific Coast Highway
Firefighters deployed heavy hydraulic extrication tools Thursday to rescue a driver trapped inside a crushed work truck following a high-impact crash along Pacific Coast Highway, according to an LAFD alert. Emergency crews responded around 11:31 a.m. to the 14800 block of West Pacific Coast Highway after the vehicle slammed into a one-story commercial
building. The collision left the driver pinned in the cab under high temperatures for nearly two hours as specialized Urban Search and Rescue units worked to dismantle the damaged structure around the vehicle. Rescuers successfully freed the driver, who was the truck's sole occupant. Paramedics placed the driver into an ambulance for transport to a local hospital. Authorities have not released the driver's identity or current medical condition. No occupants were inside the commercial structure at the time of the crash, and no additional injuries were reported. Investigators have not determined the cause of the collision. Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, the Department of Transportation, and the Los Angeles Police Department were dispatched to assess the building's structural integrity and manage surrounding traffic.
Autopsy reveals opera singer Jubilant Sykes suffered 68 knife wounds in fatal attack at Santa Monica home. Medical examiner rules death a homicide as his son awaits August arraignment.
Famed American baritone Jubilant Sykes died from dozens of knife wounds inside his Santa Monica home late last year, according to newly released medical examiner records detailing the circumstances surrounding his death, obtained by US Weekly. An autopsy report from the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner ruled the 2025 killing a homicide, citing 68 sharp-force injuries among at least 73 total wounds. The report noted that the assailant used a 9-inch curved blade and also struck the singer with a 10-pound dumbbell during the attack on December 8, 2025 Santa Monica police officers pronounced Sykes dead at his residence shortly after arriving at the scene. Authorities were
alerted by the singer's wife, Cecelia Sykes, who reported that their son, who has a documented history of mental illness, had stabbed her husband. Police arrested the victim's son, 31-yearold Micah Sykes, at the home in connection with the fatal attack. Held without bail, the younger Sykes faces formal criminal charges, with his arraignment rescheduled for Aug. 6. Prosecutors requested the no-bail hold after raising concerns in court regarding the defendant's treatment history, noting he was not receiving appropriate medication for a schizophrenia diagnosis. Sykes built an international reputation as a versatile baritone, performing in major operas, concert halls, and stage musicals while also recording contemporary worship music throughout his career.