Truck driver killed in road rage incident near Cal State Long Beach, police say
Two cars weaving through traffic at high speeds caused the accident on Seventh Street, according to authorities.
Police are investigating the death of a box truck driver who was hit by another car involved in a road rage incident near Seventh Street and Margo Avenue late Wednesday morning.
The truck driver was in a 2017 Mitsubishi Fuso box truck with two passengers heading eastbound on Seventh Street around 11:45 a.m. when the truck was rear-ended by a 2023 Tesla Model 3 that had been "weaving through traffic at unsafe speeds" with a dark-colored Subaru, according to Long Beach police.
The force of the impact caused the box truck, which was carrying hazardous materials, to hit and break through a brick sound wall and overturn, police said. No hazardous materials were released in the collision, police added.
Long Beach Fire Department personnel aided the driver, who was trapped in the truck, but he died at the scene, according to authorities.
LBFD personnel took the two passengers from the box truck, along with Tesla driver, who was identified only as a 31-year-old San Diego resident, to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries, police said.
The truck driver's identity is being withheld while the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner works to notify the next of kin, according to the LBPD.
Police had no information on the dark-colored Subaru or its occupants.
At this time, police said they believe speed and reckless driving appear to be contributing factors in the collision.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call LBPD Collision Investigation Detail Detective Ashley Van Holland at 562-570-7355.
This is 39th traffic fatality reported by the LBPD this year. There were 40 traffic fatalities in the city in 2024, according to police statistics.
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