Fatal Traffic Collision
On Thursday, April 18, 2019, at approximately 8:41 PM, Torrance Police Officers responded to the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Hawthorne Boulevard regarding a traffic collision involving three vehicles and a pedestrian.
The preliminary investigation reveals the lone driver of a 2015 Toyota Highlander was travelling south on Hawthorne Boulevard approaching Sepulveda Boulevard on red light. The driver continued south and struck a pedestrian who was standing on the pedestrian island which separates the south lanes of Hawthorne Boulevard and the right-turn lane. After colliding with the pedestrian, the driver struck two additional vehicles travelling west across the intersection on a green signal.
The pedestrian, who was a 19-year-old male, sustained major injuries and was treated by Torrance Fire Department personnel, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The identity of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification to a next of kin.
Officers suspected the driver of the Toyota Highlander, a 16-year-old young woman, to be under the influence of narcotics and/or alcohol. She was subsequently arrested at the scene. The remaining drivers, a 64-year-old male resident of Redondo Beach and a 69-year-old female resident of Torrance were not injured.
The intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard was temporarily closed for 6 ½ hours during the follow-up investigation.
The preliminary investigation reveals the lone driver of a 2015 Toyota Highlander was travelling south on Hawthorne Boulevard approaching Sepulveda Boulevard on red light. The driver continued south and struck a pedestrian who was standing on the pedestrian island which separates the south lanes of Hawthorne Boulevard and the right-turn lane. After colliding with the pedestrian, the driver struck two additional vehicles travelling west across the intersection on a green signal.
The pedestrian, who was a 19-year-old male, sustained major injuries and was treated by Torrance Fire Department personnel, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The identity of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification to a next of kin.
Officers suspected the driver of the Toyota Highlander, a 16-year-old young woman, to be under the influence of narcotics and/or alcohol. She was subsequently arrested at the scene. The remaining drivers, a 64-year-old male resident of Redondo Beach and a 69-year-old female resident of Torrance were not injured.
The intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard was temporarily closed for 6 ½ hours during the follow-up investigation.
The Torrance Police Department offers its condolences to the families involved in this incident. This investigation is being conducted under the command of Torrance Police Captain Mark Underwood of the Special Operations Bureau. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Torrance Police Department at (310) 6185557 (DR# 190017524).
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