An early-morning solo crash on the edge of Los Angeles' Chinatown sent five people to local hospitals Thursday, turning a quiet stretch of Sunset Boulevard into a small traffic mess before sunrise.
Police say a single car was involved. The vehicle was headed east on Sunset Boulevard near Figueroa Street when it slammed into the center median, then kept going, striking the curb and a light pole before finally coming to a stop. The impact left one passenger with severe injuries and briefly backed up traffic through the corridor while first responders worked the scene.
According to CBS News Los Angeles, the crash was reported at about 12:46 a.m. The Los Angeles Police Department told the outlet the car hit the center median first, then continued to collide with the curb and the pole. Investigators have not yet said whether speed, impairment, or any other factor might have contributed to the wreck.
Sunset Boulevard's safety track record
Sunset Boulevard and its neighboring streets are no strangers to serious collisions. Portions of the corridor are flagged in the city's safety planning as high-risk. As detailed in the Los Angeles Vision Zero Safety Study, segments of Sunset fall within Los Angeles' High Injury Network, the slice of streets where a disproportionate share of severe traffic injuries and deaths occur.
What officials are saying and what comes next
The five people in the vehicle were taken to local hospitals, and one of them is reported to have suffered severe injuries, according to CBS News Los Angeles. LAPD officials say the investigation is ongoing and have not released information about any citations or arrests as detectives work to piece together what led up to the crash.
Authorities have indicated that more details will be released as they become available. In the meantime, drivers using Sunset Boulevard near Chinatown may want to allow extra time and take it slow through the area.
