Last Updated on September 26, 2022 by CCAR Staff
On July 7, 2021 at approximately 3:41 a.m., officers responded to an injury traffic collision in the area of Artesia Boulevard east of the 710 Freeway, which resulted in the death a male adult.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle. The Long Beach Fire Department responded to the scene and despite their life-saving measures, the pedestrian succumbed to his injuries. The pedestrian was identified as 54-year-old Darnell Bluitt of Compton.
Fire Department personnel transported a second victim, a 43-year-old resident of Compton who was steering the vehicle, to a local hospital for her injuries where she remains in stable condition.
Preliminary investigation revealed two adult males were pushing a disabled 1993 Acura sedan westbound on Artesia Boulevard with the help of an adult female who was steering the vehicle. A 2010 GMC truck struck them from behind, fatally injuring one of the men that had been pushing the Acura and injuring the adult female who was steering. The driver of the GMC fled in their vehicle to a nearby neighborhood.
Officers located the vehicle and arrested the suspect who was identified as 57-year-old Patrick Mount of Long Beach. He was booked for DUI, hit-and-run, and vehicular manslaughter. Bail is set at $100,000.
Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contact Detective Joseph Johnson 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” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 TIPS” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
