A tragic mishap claimed the life of a pedestrian following a collision with an SUV on April 22, 2024, in Long Beach, law enforcement has confirmed. The Long Beach Police Department divulged in a press release that officers rushed to the site on Atlantic Avenue and 4th Street after being alerted to an injury traffic incident involving a pedestrian and a vehicle just after 6 p.m.
The victim, an adult male pedestrian, was found in a critical state by the Long Beach Fire Department who swiftly enacted lifesaving efforts. Despite being immediately transported to a local hospital, the unnamed individual failed to recover, ultimately succumbing to the injuries on April 24. As police thoroughly sifted through the cause of this tragedy, their preliminary assessment suggests that neither speed nor distracted driving seemed to have played a role in the regrettable event. The driver, piloting a 2002 Lexus SUV, was reportedly making a left turn on northbound Atlantic Avenue from eastbound 4th Street, when they struck the pedestrian, who was crossing the street north of the crosswalk.
Remaining at the scene, the driver of the Lexus has been cooperating with the authorities as they continue to unravel the incident's circumstances. "Detectives were notified of the pedestrians passing on May 1, 2024." a snippet from the official press release states, indicating the ongoing nature of the investigation.
As this case folds open, Detective Dougherty and Kevin Johansen of the Long Beach Police Department's Collision Investigation Detail are shouldering the investigation, imploring the public to come forward with any relevant information that could possibly to help illuminate the circumstances that led to this death. Anyone with insights can reach out to them directly, or anonymously share tips via "LA Crime Stoppers," ensuring that their identity would remain obscured, tucked away from the probing eyes of interrogation.
While the Long Beach community grapples with the aftermath of such a loss, local officials remind pedestrians and drivers alike to exercise caution and abide by traffic laws designed to protect all who share the roads. Informational campaigns and enhanced safety measures are often the aftermath of such tragedies, as a single life lost on the streets resonates as a grim reminder of the fragility threaded within our daily commutes.
