Seven people were injured, three critically, in a three-vehicle crash in South Los Angeles Wednesday involving a fleeing armed robbery suspect who attempted to elude police.
“The officers were in proximity but not behind him,” Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Kenneth Busiere told KTLA. “Their lights and sirens were not activated… The helicopter overhead, and he may have been aware of the helicopter’s presence.”
A 40-year-old man, 36-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man were hospitalized in critical condition, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department. A 24-year-old woman and 5-year-old, 4-year-old and 5-month-old girls were hospitalized in fair condition, Prange said.
The crash was reported at about 1:15 p.m. in the 200 block of West 81st Street, between Main Street and South Broadway, Prange said.
The circumstances of the crash were under investigation.