Authorities say three persons were killed, and one was injured early Sunday morning in a crash involving a motorist evading arrest for a possible catalytic converter theft.
According to authorities, the incident began in South Gate and culminated in a two-car collision at about 2 a.m. on State Street and Tweedy Boulevard in Lynwood.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed two deaths at the scene. One of the two people who were taken to the hospital later died; the condition of the other is now unknown.
Two of the three victims were identified by the county coroner’s office on Sunday afternoon; their names were James Griffin, 20, and Flavio Balderas, 60.
Michaela Balderas, Balderas’s wife, reportedly passed away in the hospital. According to the family, the crash occurred on their way home from a quinceaera celebration.
“They told us that our dad passed away at the scene, and my mom was rushed to the hospital, and she didn’t survive,” said Astrid Balderas, the couple’s daughter. “They weren’t drinking. They don’t drink. They were just hardworking people.”
According to South Gate police, it all started when patrol officers detected a possible catalytic converter theft. They got close, but the individuals sped off, setting off a chase.
South Gate fire crews respond to a fatal car crash. A police sergeant explained that the pursuit was called off because the subject was traveling at high speeds. However, the motorist soon crashed at Tweedy and State in Lynwood.
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The sergeant stated that it was unknown how much time had passed between the call off of the pursuit and the ensuing crash.
As seen on news footage, two cars were severely damaged in the incident. The accident’s cause has been attributed to speed, according to investigators.
According to family members, Griffin was riding a shotgun in a friend’s car.
Griffin’s mother is upset because she claims the cops have given her very little information. His loved ones are demanding answers, claiming that unknown individuals chased them.
The family of Balderas, especially his children, are heartbroken. Neither of them deserved this, the couple’s daughter Nayeli Balderas stated.