Teen dead, 3 others injured after police chase ends in fiery crash on 710 Freeway, authorities say
The 15-year-old boy was driving a stolen Kia when he collided with a semi-truck on Monday night, CHP said.
A 15-year-old boy is dead and three other people are injured following a police chase that ended in a fiery crash on the 710 Freeway in Long Beach on Monday night, the California Highway Patrol reported.
It’s unclear when the chase began, but the agency said it was notified that a 15-year-old was driving a stolen 2020 Kia along Shoreline Drive and was heading onto the northbound 710 Freeway sometime before 10:30 p.m.
A Long Beach Police Department helicopter was used to track the vehicle as it fled, authorities said.
At one point, the teen drove past a 2024 semi-truck on the freeway before suddenly cutting it off and crossing into its path, authorities said. That’s when the truck collided with the right side of the Kia, the CHP said.
Column: Traffic deaths are rising, but Long Beach police are issuing fewer traffic citations than ever
Jake Gotta • May 13, 2024
The Long Beach Police Department reported 23,137 moving violations in 2019, according to data provided to the Watchdog. But just one year later, that number dropped to 11,239. This is understandable; the global pandemic that briefly shut down the country …
Read full story →
Video captured at the scene and posted to Instagram by @lbcode3media, shows someone screaming for help from inside the burning car as officers drag others out and away from the wreck.
"This tragic event highlights a nationwide trend in which juveniles are stealing vehicles and driving recklessly," Chief Wally Hebeish said in a statement. "While the driver of the vehicle ultimately succumbed to his injuries, I must commend the officers for their heroic actions."
Authorities say the 15-year-old boy was taken to a hospital where he died. He was only identified by authorities as a Long Beach resident.
Three other teenagers in his car, ranging from ages 13 to 15, also suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital. CHP did not say what kind of injuries they suffered.
The 22-year-old truck driver was uninjured, authorities said.
No other information was immediately available.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from LBPD.
Don’t let Long Beach become a news desert. Become a Watchdog today.
We need your support.
Subcribe to the Watchdog today.
The Long Beach Watchdog is owned by journalists, and paid for by readers like you. If independent, local reporting like the story you just read is important to you, support our work by becoming a subscriber.
