Beachgoers Aren’t Deterred by the Clouds over Labor Day Holiday

• The Relatively Quiet Local Scene Pleased Residents

BY BILL KOENEKER

A problem free Labor Day weekend in Malibu on Pacific Coast Highway and along the beaches was reported by local authorities.
“It was a pretty routine holiday,” said one lifeguard, who reported that small waves kept the rescues down, and the overcast weather for two of the three days contributed to less than staggering beach crowds.
Lifeguards said they estimated the number of visitors to all of Malibu’s shoreline for the total three days at 386,500.
During Saturday, Sunday and Monday, there were 121 rescues and lifeguards attended to 132 emergency service calls.
The surf was about three feet and water temperature reached into the upper 60s, according to lifeguards.
Traffic on Pacific Coast Highway was considered unremarkable for the last summertime holiday of the year. There were a total of six accidents with the most serious being a motorcyclist who was knocked down by a vehicle behind him, according to authorities.
“They were mostly bumper taps and two DUI arrests. The motorcycle accident was the most serious,” said a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The motorcycle accident took place on Monday afternoon at the intersection of PCH and Trancas Canyon Road.
A woman driving a Honda was in the left turn lane at the intersection in PCH waiting to turn, when she decided to go straight ahead. She said she felt the impact as she began to turn when the right rear end of her vehicle collided with the motorcyclist, who suffered a fractured left ankle, according to a sheriff’s report.