A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy responding to an emergency call collided with a civilian vehicle in Commerce early Wednesday, killing the vehicle’s driver and sending the car into another vehicle.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the California Post that the crash occurred at about 1:20 a.m. near Sheila Street and Atlantic Boulevard.
The deputy was traveling to Cudahy to assist with an unrelated report of a person who was unconscious and not breathing when the patrol vehicle struck the civilian car. The impact pushed that vehicle into a second car, which sustained minor damage.
Deputies at the scene immediately began administering aid, while Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to the collision.
The driver of the vehicle hit by the deputy was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured. The deputy suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The deputy’s emergency lights and siren were activated at the time of the crash, police told ABC 7. Authorities have not said how fast the patrol car was traveling.
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Video from the crash site showed extensive front-end damage to the LASD vehicle, with its airbags deployed. A black Toyota nearby appeared to have suffered considerably less damage.
Another vehicle, parked behind the two cars with a green tent beside it, appeared to have sustained significant damage.
Authorities have not released the names of the civilian victims or the deputy involved.
The investigation remains underway. The Sheriff’s Department said dashcam video from the deputy’s vehicle could be released at a later date.
Commerce is located in Los Angeles County, roughly 8 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and about 5 miles north of Cudahy.
