Speeding driver causes deadly crash along Cherry Avenue, Long Beach police say
Police say the driver, identified as 34-year-old Guillermo Penaloza of Long Beach, was speeding when he collided with a car at the intersection of Cherry Avenue and 14th Street.
Long Beach police say they’re investigating a crash involving a speeding driver Friday evening that left one person dead and another in critical condition.
Guillermo Penaloza, 34, of Long Beach was driving near the area of 14th Street and Cherry Avenue just before 7 p.m. when police say he passed by LBPD officers patrolling the area.
They exchanged words, and Penaloza sped off, authorities said. The officers did not start a pursuit, but instead choosing to follow him from a distance, according to the LBPD.
Penaloza continued speeding, going westbound on 14th Street, near Cherry Avenue in a Chevy Suburban SUV, police said.
When he reached the intersection, he collided with a Saturn sedan that was going southbound on Cherry Avenue, according to the LBPD.
Penaloza ran from the crash site while officers and Long Beach Fire Department personnel helped the driver and passenger in the sedan, police said.
The driver of the sedan, who was identified as 33-year-old Long Beach man, died after being taken to a local hospital, police said. The passenger of the sedan remains in critical condition, they added.
After setting up a perimeter around the area, and activating SWAT, authorities located Penaloza nearly three hours later, police said.
He was taken to a local hospital where he is waiting to be medically cleared before being taken to jail and booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, driving a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest, police said. His bail was set at $50,000, according to authorities.
At this time, detectives believe speeding and a disregard for public safety were factors in the crash, police said.
Police ask anyone with more information to contact detectives at 562-570-7355.
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