Man dies after falling from gantry crane at CSNA’s LA terminal

A suspected car thief climbed a giant container crane at Pier 100, which is part of the China Shipping North America-run West Basin Container Terminal, and stripped off his clothes before falling to his death, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.    A man who made his way onto the Port of Los Angeles during a police pursuit managed to climb a 160-foot tall gantry crane, discard all his clothes and then keep police and the media at bay for hours until he died after either falling or jumping from the crane, authorities say.
   The man, a suspected car thief, fell from the crane around 8:10 pm on Aug. 16 at Pier 100, part of the West Basin Container Terminal, according to the Los Angeles Fire Dept. The terminal is operated by China Shipping North America (CSNA), a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping.
   The pursuit began shortly after 3 pm when the suspect, identified as James Llamas, 23, was spotted in a car that had been reported as stolen from a dealership in the city of San Bernardino, located about 80 miles northeast of the port.
   The driver managed to elude authorities for a time, but the car, a white 2018 Subaru SUV, was later seen in Long Beach. When police there picked up the chase, the car managed to find its way onto Pier 100, where the driver exited the vehicle and climbed the stairs of a crane tower; he remained atop the crane for over three hours before he either fell or jumped.
   Much of the police pursuit and lengthy standoff were broadcast live by Los Angeles news media. Prior to the fall, Llamas had exhibited bizarre behavior, such as doing exercises and handstands, before stripping completely naked.
   In a statement to the Associated Press, port spokeswoman Rachel Campbell said that the circumstances surrounding the driver’s entry into the port and CSNA container terminal are under review.
“This thorough review, including protocols necessary to address improvements, will be completed as soon as possible,” Campbell was quoted as saying.