TRAFFIC FATALITY – LAKEWOOD BOULEVARD AND 23rd STREET

On July 26, 2022 at approximately 5:22 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and 23rd Street regarding an injury traffic collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian, which resulted in the death of a male juvenile.

Upon arrival, officers located an unconscious male juvenile pedestrian on the roadway suffering from critical injuries resulting from the traffic collision. Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and determined the 7-year-old juvenile pedestrian deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed a 2005 Dodge Ram pick-up truck was traveling westbound 23rd Street and making a left turn to southbound Lakewood Boulevard. A father and juvenile were crossing Lakewood Boulevard eastbound on 23rd Street when the Dodge pick-up truck failed to yield to them in the marked south crosswalk. The father and juvenile were in the crosswalk with the right-of-way pedestrian signal when the incident occurred.

The driver of the Dodge pick-up was identified by his valid California Driver’s License as James Barnes, a 57-year-old male resident of Desert Hot Springs. Barnes remained at the scene, cooperated with the investigation, and was later arrested for felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Alcohol, drugs, and distracted driving were not believed to be a factor in this collision.

Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to call Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail Detective Joseph Johnson or Detective Kevin Johansen 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 by visiting www.LAcrimestoppers.org.