Alleged South LA Street Takeover Driver Slams Into Wall After Short Pursuit
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Four people face charges in connection with taking part in a street takeover, then leading a short pursuit that ended in a crash into South LA wall.
The crash happened at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Slauson and Broadway in South LA. The driver suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalized with one of the passengers. Two of the passengers have been released by the hospital. All are expected to be OK, and have since been arrested.
Police say the driver had been part of a street takeover – where several cars take over an intersection to do dangerous stunts in front of an audience notified via social media -- at 54th and Avalon. Neighbors called 911 to report the street takeover.
An officer nearby tried to stop one of the vehicles that was part of the street takeover, but the driver did not stop and led a short pursuit before losing control, rolling over train tracks and slamming into a wall.
Speed was a factor in the crash, and police say it was a miracle no one was killed.
"There's a food truck, there was a lot of pedestrian traffic," LAPD Lt. Gus Barrientos said. "Had this gone sideways, and the vehicle traveled in a southwest direction, obviously probably we would have had many casualties."
The intersection could stay closed for the police investigation until 9 a.m.