
A suspected Long Beach drunken driver was in custody Monday after his vehicle allegedly killed a possibly homeless man in a wheelchair pushing a shopping cart with all his worldly belongings.
The deadly encounter took place in the Los Altos neighborhood of Long Beach, according to authorities.
The tragedy happened at 11:19 p.m. Saturday at Stearns Street and Radnor Avenue, said Long Beach police Lt. Shaleana Benson.
Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.
The man in the wheelchair was pushing a shopping cart of his belongings in an unmarked crosswalk when he was hit by a 2016 Honda Civic traveling westbound on Stearns Street, LBPD officials said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving measures performed by police and fire department personnel. His name was not released pending notification of relatives.
The driver of the Honda Civic was identified as 26-year-old Joseph Maez of Long Beach. He was arrested and booked for driving under the influence of alcohol and for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Anyone with information regarding the collision was asked to contact Detective Shawn Loughlin or Detective Kelsey Myers of the Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail at 562-570-7355. Anonymous tips may be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers.