A 16-year-old girl died after a two-vehicle collision on Dec. 23, 2025, on Long Beach Boulevard just south of Wardlow Road, according to authorities. She was riding in a 2007 Saturn Aura that collided with a 2021 Jeep Wrangler while both vehicles were heading south. The 17-year-old who was driving the Saturn was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, while the Jeep driver was not injured.
In a press release, the Long Beach Police Department said officers were called to the scene around 8:20 p.m., where they found both teens before Long Beach Fire Department crews took them to a local hospital. Detectives reported that the Saturn appeared to be changing lanes when it struck the Jeep, and said speed and distracted driving may have been factors. Police said they were notified the following day that the teenage passenger had died.
Crash Details and Investigation
The Long Beach Post reported that emergency crews treated both teens at the scene before transporting them to the hospital and noted that officials are withholding the girl's name because she was a minor. The outlet also reported that the Jeep driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Detectives are still working to determine how speed and distraction may have contributed and are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the Collision Investigation Detail at 562-570-7358 or submit an anonymous tip to LA Crime Stoppers.
Citywide Trend and Enforcement
The fatal collision comes amid a broader spike in deadly crashes in Long Beach in 2025. NBC Los Angeles reported that police data showed more than 50 fatal crashes in the city last year and that the Long Beach City Council recently signed off on a plan to install 18 speed cameras at intersections with documented histories of speeding and collisions. Officials have said enforcement efforts, including DUI checkpoints and high-visibility distracted-driving patrols, are part of the city's strategy to respond to the rise in traffic deaths.
What Police Are Asking
Long Beach police say the investigation is ongoing and are urging anyone with video or additional information to contact the LBPD Collision Investigation Detail at 562-570-7358. The department has emphasized that the details released so far are preliminary as detectives continue to gather evidence and speak with witnesses.
