Gardena Police Investigating Fatal Street-Racing Crash
GARDENA (CBSLA.com) — Gardena police were investigating a fatal crash they say occurred Tuesday during a possible street race.
Officers responded around 4:50 p.m. to a call of a traffic collision near 155th Street and Vermont Avenue.
Investigators believe an illegal street race was initiated southbound on Vermont Avenue north of Redondo Beach Boulevard between the driver of a black, newer Ford Mustang and a 2008 or newer white Audi, possibly an A4.
The Mustang was traveling at freeway speeds when it collided with a white Honda Accord, which was traveling west on 155th Street at Vermont.
The driver of the Mustang was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Mustang as well as the driver of the Honda were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Audi, who was described as a black male, possibly in his 20s, fled south on Vermont following the crash, authorities said.
Vermont Avenue from Redondo Beach Boulevard to 161st Street was shut down for several hours during the investigation.
Any witnesses were asked to contact the Gardena Police Department traffic investigators at (310)217-9635, (310)217-6189 or (310)217-9670.