A tragic car crash in Los Angeles left one woman dead and three others injured after a police chase ended in a collision on Saturday, November 23.
The trouble started when Los Angeles police spotted a Mercedes-Benz in Winnetka, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. The car’s license plate didn’t match the vehicle’s description, so officers tried to pull it over, according to LAPD officer Tony Im. But the driver, a man in his 40s, sped off down a busy street, leading officers on a high-speed chase.
“They waited for backup and a helicopter for support, but suddenly, the driver took off,” LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar told CBS News. The chase lasted only a minute before the Mercedes slammed into a Tesla at the intersection of Saticoy Street and Mason Avenue. The Tesla had the green light and was crossing the street when it was hit. The impact caused a chain reaction, with the Tesla crashing into two other vehicles.
Sadly, the Tesla driver, a woman in her 40s, died at the scene. Three others in the other cars had minor injuries. Witnesses said the Mercedes driver tried to run away after the crash but was caught by police right away. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Photos from the scene showed the Mercedes flipped on its side and the Tesla severely damaged. Local resident Maria Toribio, who saw the crash, described it as horrific. “It was bad,” she said. “My stomach turned just looking at it.”
LAPD Deputy Chief Don Graham called the crash heartbreaking. “This family will carry this tragedy with them forever, especially being so close to the holidays. It’s just unimaginable,” he told KTLA.
The intersection where the crash happened has a history of accidents. Earlier this year, another major crash just a few blocks away killed one man and seriously injured a woman. In 2021, another collision at the same spot sent two people to the hospital with severe burns after a car hit parked vehicles and caught fire.
The community is mourning the loss and reflecting on the dangers of reckless driving. It’s a somber reminder to drive safely, especially on busy streets like this one.
