Dakota Culkin, Macaulay's Sister, Dies (PHOTOS)

UPDATED
TMZ broke news that Macaulay Culkin's sister Dakota Culkin died yesterday after being struck by a car.

Law enforcement sources tell us Dakota Culkin was walking on the west side of Los Angeles Tuesday when she stepped off a curb and was struck by a car. The 29-year-old Culkin was taken to the UCLA Medical Center where she died of her injuries yesterday afternoon.

More on Dakota Culkin from the AP:

.Police spokesman Richard French says Dakota Culkin was struck Tuesday night after she stepped into the street. She died a day later at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering massive head injuries.

French says there is no active criminal investigation.

Police say the driver stopped and tried to help the 29-year-old. Officers determined the motorist wasn't driving drunk and followed all laws.

An official statement from Macaulay's rep. "We can officially confirm that the victim is Dakota Culkin. This is a terrible tragic accident. We have no further comment at this time."


Dakota is the elder of two Culkin daughters:

Dakota Culkin, far right:

TMZ has photos of the Dakota Culkin accident scene

Comments

[Opt1musPr1me]

You guys are some serious over thinkers. Are you asking the editors to change the photo to make the news of Macaulay's sister more dramatic for you? Wouldn't putting some picture up there with him caught with a semi sad looking face be just as inappropriate being that it was probably taken by a pap at some industry event and has nothing to do with him losing his sister? Who cares about the photo, it's the news that matter but you all just wanted it to be presented in a more dramatic manner. My heart goes out to the whole Culkin family.

[goodog]

no

[FabulousAt52]

No, nothing to do with being more "dramatic"... it's a matter of respect! A woman died, and because she is a famous person's sister, it is "news". However, it would have been MUCH more appropriate if a picture of HER was used in the headline, and not her famous brother's.
It isn't even an appropriate picture of her brother, but a goofy publicity shot from 15 freakin' years ago.
Looks like a rush job to me... a lousy rush job.

[g4dualie]

My heart goes out to the Culkin family.

HUFFPO, PLEASE REMOVE that impish-looking picture of Macaulay. It's a picture horribly misplaced and idiotic example of what not to use in what has to be the most tragic day of his life.

[Bill Swadley - Huffpost Blogger]

Message to the moderator:

I'm assuming you've read the dozens of complaints and requests that the main picture flagging this article be changed, yet it remains.

These posters are right. The shot of Macauly is inappropriate. Please alert the editors.

[stevebuggy]

For those of you that are sick of the paparazzi and want to get your own back peacefully and with an element of humour, take a look at my blog and see what you think of it. All comments (provided they are clean) will be published. http://smokinghotcoffee.blogspot.com/2008/12/paparazzi-where-should-privacy-line-be.html let see how the paparazzi like it. It's time for a revolution.

[Bill Swadley - Huffpost Blogger]

Spamming on an article about a tragic death seems very paparazzi-like to me....

[goodog]

point goes to Swadley

[Kokoapelli]

My sympathies to the family and friends of this girl. Such a needless tragedy, especially at this time of the year.

[davidpkronmiller]

Such a tragedy. I hope their family recovers..

[princeinpurplrayn]

In reading an article, this article was under the featured stories, and next to this sad sad headline was a picture of Macaulay maybe ten years ago with a bashful , 'full of fun' sort of a grin on his face.

SHAME ON YOU HUFFINGTON POST FOR PUTTING THIS PICTURE NEXT TO THIS HEADLINE

SHAME ON YOU

I go on this website every time I go on the internet too, I really really like it, but this is outrageous.

Since when did H Post become a Murdock type news source??

[wyson]

Chill out. At least they didn't post the pic of him after he put
on his dad's aftershave.

[princeinpurplrayn]

pretty strange bar

[bamxander]

I think that was kind of a sick joke. But ,VERY funny!

[VIVIANNE]

FROM CHILE, ALL MY SYMPATHIES TO CULKIN FAMILY....GOD GIVES YOU PEACE.

[jtmoney]

Very sad. This entire family has had it rough, with the parent's fighting and using the kids against each other in a very public way. I feel for them.

Igby Goes Down is one of my favorite movies ever, also.

[rzzza]

terrible tragedy.

everyone talks about banning guns because they cause so many deaths. ban guns! crack down on drugs!

how about banning cars? you know how many people die due to cars?

ban knives, you know how many people die due to stabbings?

ban chairs, you know how many people die due to chairs?

but now im off on a tangent

[grantlingel]

CHANGE THE PICTURE OF MACAULAY... SO disrespectful to have that picture there after what happened... whoever put this article together should get a clue.
http://www.vagabondstory.com

[Georgiamitch]

I agree. Have some decency please.

[jtmoney]

how is it any different from people putting in pictures in the obituary? people show people's pictures on the news all the time when they pass. if they actually show the deceased's body, yea i'll give you that. showing a person's picture humanizes the story and draws it to you more. you're being melodramatic.

[jasperjava]

It's not an obituary picture. It's not a picture of the deceased, but of the deceased's brother. The picture is inappropriate, because it is meant to illustrate a tragedy and yet shows him with a smirk/grin on his face. It becomes some kind of sick editorial comment.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

I am sure there are no words that can erase the kind of pain this family is going through at this time. Kids are suppose to out live thier parents, not the other way around. I hope somehow the Culkin family can find some sebelence of peace during this hard time. The loss of a child regardless of age is the worst thing a parent can go through, regardless of how it happens. When my father lost his sister in a tragic train accident, nobody was the same after. I wish Mac and his family and friends, peace, privacy and courage during this dreadful time. Hang in there guys.

[MarciaJ720]

Sad.

Now if we can make talking on a cell phone (DWTC-Driving while Talking On a Cell Phone) against the law just like a DUI we may see even fewer unnecessary deaths.

Every time I get into a car with someone who is driving and then talks on their cell phone - I see first hand how they aren't driving the speed limit, watching for other cars, well, just the usual distractions amplified by 100x's.

I know, this article says nothing about cell phones but I thought I would bring it up - since they are now what, the number one cause of accidents?.?,.?

[aloha43]

You are sooooo right!

[Anthro]

Actually, that's not true. Do you cite any evidence for saying that cell phones are the #1 cause of accidents? I agree that people overuse them and if used, they should be hands free, but don't make claims not supported by evidence please.

[Judyisacutie]

Everyone, please pay attention when you drive. Just because you are obeying all the laws doesn't mean things can't happen on the road.

Condolences to the Culkin family.

[geobushono]

EVERYDAY I see people walk into traffic as though there are NO cars or trucks......especially at crosswalks.
Tragic as it is, it is Darwin.

[audeo03]

PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO CROSS AT CROSSWALKS. You would fail the driving test if you had to take it again. If a person is in a crosswalk you MUST stop. Doesn't matter if one foot is in, pay attention, and SLOW DOWN. Jeez.

[aloha43]

Please, correct me if I'm wrong.....but I don't see anywhere in the article that states that she was in a crosswalk. It only states that she stepped off the curb and into the street.

I agree that we HAVE to stop for people at crosswalks, but there are always the ones who step out without checking traffic first. They think just because they have the right away, that everyone needs to bow down to them. Yes they have the right of way......but the pedestrian needs to be aware that sometimes the driver may not see them quickly enough, and if they "take" the right of way without thinking first, accidents do happen. The same goes for bicyclists who don't follow rules of the road....if we hit one, it would automatically be blamed on the car driver even if it was the fault of the cyclist.

I am in no way blaming this particular accident on the Dakota...in any way shape or form. I just get irritated when pedestrians don't think.

There are so many things to watch for when driving and everyone needs to take some responsibility to keep things safe. It's not always the driver's fault.

My sincere condolences to the family.

[Robespierre]

Dakota and the rest of her family and friends will be in our thoughts. It is never easy to accept the loss of a loved one.

May she rest in peace...