A somber incident unfolded on Monday night along the 710 Freeway in Long Beach, claiming the life of a 15-year-old boy and leaving three other teenagers injured.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, the sequence of events began with a report of a stolen Kia Optima around 10 p.m. in the 100 block of Jaymills Avenue. Promptly responding to the call, officers, including LBPD’s helicopter unit, endeavored to locate the vehicle, albeit unsuccessfully.
Tragically, the stolen Kia collided with a semi-truck on the 710 Freeway near Anaheim Street at approximately 10:25 p.m., erupting into flames, as reported by the California Highway Patrol. Importantly, no police vehicles were pursuing the Kia at the time of the collision. Officers at the scene swiftly intervened, rescuing the four occupants from the engulfing flames. Subsequently, all four were rushed to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.
CHP investigators disclosed that the 2020 Kia was under the control of a 15-year-old Long Beach resident, who later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His identity remains undisclosed at this time. Meanwhile, the three other occupants, comprising two girls aged 13 and 15 from Long Beach, and a 14-year-old boy from Los Angeles, are currently receiving treatment for moderate injuries.
The driver of the semi-truck, identified as 22-year-old Alvaro Patino from Paramount, escaped the collision unharmed, according to the CHP.
An initial investigation suggests that the 15-year-old driver of the stolen Kia made a sharp turn directly in front of the semi-truck on the 710 Freeway, causing the fatal collision. It appeared that the teen driver was attempting to exit the freeway onto the Anaheim Street off-ramp. At present, it remains uncertain whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.
Following the incident, all northbound lanes of the 710 Freeway remained closed for several hours as authorities meticulously examined the scene.
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