This week the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) reported two vehicular accidents that resulted in fatalities of pedestrians.
The first occurred Monday, Aug. 14 at approximately 1:15am at Long Beach Boulevard and Bort Street, resulting in the death of a man who had been struck by a car.
When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a male pedestrian lying on the southwest corner of the two streets. They also discovered an abandoned 2000 Ford Expedition on the west service road of Long Beach Boulevard and W. Adams Street.
Long Beach Fire Department Paramedics responded and determined the pedestrian deceased at the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed that prior to the accident, the Expedition had been involved in another accident involving a bicyclist at Long Beach Boulevard and the westbound 91 off ramp. A witness who was also riding with the victim at that accident was trying to prevent the driver from fleeing the scene and jumped onto the driver’s side running board of the vehicle and was reaching through the driver-side window to turn off the car’s ignition, when the driver took off southbound Long Beach Boulevard.
The driver then made a turn at a high rate of speed at Bort Street, where the witness/victim fell off the vehicle and struck his head on the curb. The driver then parked his vehicle in the middle of the service road on Long Beach Boulevard and W. Adams Street and fled the scene on foot. The victim is a 51-year-old resident of Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, Aug. 15, around 12:09am, officers were dispatched to Cherry Avenue and 65th Street regarding a traffic collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian.
When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a male adult pedestrian lying in the roadway on Cherry Avenue, with bystanders administering CPR on him. Officers also discovered a green 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier in the roadway with the driver also on scene.
Long Beach Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the victim to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and he was later pronounced deceased.
The preliminary investigation revealed the pedestrian was attempting to cross Cherry Avenue outside of a crosswalk, just north of 65th Street, when he was struck by the Chevrolet that was travelling northbound on Cherry Avenue.
Police sais no identification was found on the victim but the LA County Coroner’s Office would attempt to identify him and notify next of kin.
The driver of the vehicle, a 39-year-old resident of Lakewood, was not under the influence and is not facing charges related to the fatality. However, he did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance, and charges for those violations are pending.
Those who may have information regarding the incidents are asked to call LBPD Collision Investigation Detective Brian Watt at (562) 570-7355.
Source: LBPD
