Two people who were arrested after allegedly leaving the scene of a five-vehicle crash in Torrance that killed a person riding with them in an SUV were expected to appear in court Thursday.
The crash was reported about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on Hawthorne Boulevard south of Del Amo Boulevard, according to Torrance Police Department Sgt. Ronald Harris.
George Jackson, who was in his 20s, died at the scene, the coroner’s office reported. His home town was not known.
Monte Collins, 19, of Long Beach was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run, Harris said. He was held in lieu of $50,000 bail, and was scheduled to appear in court Thursday in Torrance.
Karin Dixson, 19, of Los Angeles, who was riding in the SUV, was booked on suspicion of “conspiracy” and “failure to render aid,” Harris said. She was also held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was also scheduled to appear in court Thursday in Torrance.
According to the preliminary investigation, a speeding 2004 Chevrolet SUV was being driven recklessly by Collins southbound on Hawthorne Boulevard toward the intersection of Del Amo Boulevard when it sideswiped a vehicle, causing the SUV to careen over the center divider and into northbound lanes, Harris said.
Harris said two other vehicles headed north on Hawthorne Boulevard collided with the SUV, which rolled over, ejecting and fatally injuring one of its four occupants, later identified as Jackson.
“The driver and a passenger from the SUV immediately fled the scene on foot, while a remaining passenger remained trapped inside the vehicle,” Harris said.
Bystanders freed the trapped passenger, who suffered serious injuries and was taken by emergency personnel to a hospital, according to Harris.
“Assisting officers later located the two subjects that fled scene within close proximity” and arrested them, Harris said.
–City News Service