A tragic incident unfolded on the evening of December 10 when a man driving a homemade go-cart perished after a collision in Long Beach. A statement released by the Long Beach Police Department reported that officers responded to the scene at the intersection of 68th Way and Belhurst Avenue at approximately 6:52 p.m., following reports of an injury traffic collision.
The incident caught the man, Rafael Joseph Phillips Jr., a 51-year-old, who was experiencing homelessness, amidst a dire medical emergency causing him to lose control of his makeshift vehicle before colliding with a parked Chevrolet Silverado. Although the man was swiftly transported to a local hospital by the Long Beach Fire Department, efforts to save his life were in vain as he was pronounced deceased at the facility.
Honing in on the investigation details, the Long Beach Police Department specified that speeding, impaired driving, or distracted driving do not appear to have been contributing factors in the incident. Detectives are piecing together the events that led up to the catastrophic mishap.
The community is responding as the Long Beach Police Department turns to the public for additional information regarding the crash. Detective Kevin Johansen with the LBPD Collision Investigation Detail has urged potential witnesses or anyone with relevant insight to step forward. Tips can be rendered anonymously through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), using the "P3 TIPS" app, or visiting their website.
