A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and the suspect he was transporting were seriously injured in Long Beach Tuesday in a head-on collision with a sedan whose driver was also seriously hurt, police said.
The crash was reported just after midnight in the 6100 block of Paramount Boulevard, said Long Beach Police Lt. Erik Herzog.
The deputy had just made an arrest and was transporting the man back to the sheriff’s Lakewood Station, traveling south on Paramount Boulevard, when a northbound 2013 Toyota Camry crossed over the center median and hit his patrol car head-on, Herzog said.
Rescuers cut the roof off the cruiser to free the deputy, police said.
All three men were transported to hospitals in serious condition. Their names were not released.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lakewood deputy who was seriously injured in a traffic collision and to his family during this difficult time,” Sheriff Jim McDonnell said. “We hope he can rest and have a speedy recovery. We appreciate the tremendous support from the community and in the department as we come together to support one of our own.”
All streets were reopened about 6 a.m., police said.
The cause of the collision was under investigation. Anyone with information about the crash was urged to call the Long Beach Police Department’s Collision Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7355, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
—City News Service