TRAFFIC FATALITY

On April 18, 2017, at approx. 1:10 a.m., a Long Beach police officer was in the immediate area of 7th Street and Park Avenue, when a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision occurred at that location.

The preliminary investigation determined the male adult pedestrian was heading eastbound on 7th Street, and attempting to cross Park Avenue from the southwest corner to the southeast corner, when he was struck by a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer. The Mercury was being driven by an 82-year-old male resident of Norwalk who was travelling westbound on 7th Street, when he made a left turn to head southbound on Park Avenue, and the collision occurred.

The driver failed to immediately stop after the collision and continued southbound on Park Avenue. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at 6th Street and Park Avenue, and located the victim who had been dragged from the initial collision location. Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded, extricated the victim from underneath the vehicle, and determined him deceased.

Possible charges against the driver are pending and the investigation remains ongoing. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office will determine the identity of the victim and official cause of death.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should contact L.B.P.D. Collision Investigation Detective David Lauro 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 smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.