Tragedy in Long Beach
On Monday night, the city of Long Beach was shaken by a tragic car accident that claimed the life of a 15-year-old and left three other teenagers injured.
According to reports from the Long Beach Police Department, it all began when they received an alert about a stolen Kia Optima on the 100 block of Jaymills Avenue, around 10 p.m. Despite the efforts of the police and the department's helicopter, the driver managed to evade authorities.
The tragedy struck on the 710 Freeway, near Anaheim Street, when the stolen vehicle violently collided with a semi-truck, triggering a devastating fire.
Although they were not in pursuit, officers at the scene acted quickly to rescue the four occupants of the blazing car. All were rushed to a local hospital for treatment, but sadly, the driver, a 15-year-old teenager, succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
The other three occupants of the stolen vehicle, two girls aged 13 and 15 from Long Beach, and a 14-year-old boy from Los Angeles, were admitted to the hospital with moderate injuries. On the other hand, the truck driver, a 22-year-old from Paramount, emerged unscathed from the accident.
According to investigations by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the accident occurred when the teenager at the wheel of the stolen Kia attempted a sharp turn in front of the truck, in an apparent attempt to exit the freeway onto the Anaheim Street off-ramp.
Although it is still unknown whether alcohol or drugs played a role in this tragic event, authorities are conducting a thorough investigation. Meanwhile, the families of the victims face a painful wait for answers.
The northbound 710 Freeway remained closed for several hours as police conducted relevant investigations. Any witness or person with relevant information is urged to contact authorities to assist in the investigation of this tragic accident.
Contact us here on the WarmuthLaw website or through our hotline 888-517-9888.
