Hawthorne Four‑Vehicle Crash Kills One, Injures Three

A late-morning drive through one of Hawthorne's busiest intersections turned deadly Sunday when a chain-reaction collision at Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue left one person dead and three others hospitalized. Traffic ground to a halt as first responders flooded the scene, working for hours amid crumpled metal and scattered debris while they pulled victims from mangled vehicles.

According to ABC7, the crash unfolded around 11:45 a.m. when the driver of a blue SUV hit another vehicle, setting off a violent sequence that ultimately involved four cars. Los Angeles County firefighters had to cut two people out of one vehicle, and four people were taken to nearby hospitals. Investigators later confirmed that one of those patients died, while another remained in what they described as "extremely critical condition." Police have not yet said whether speed or alcohol factored into the wreck, and the investigation is still underway.

"Hit the side of that truck and just smashed into the back of that little car," a bystander told ABC7, recalling the moment of impact. The witness said he checked a passenger's pulse and helped one person regain consciousness before paramedics arrived, as stunned drivers and pedestrians watched the rescue effort play out in the middle of the intersection.

Investigation And Witness Tips

Hawthorne police are asking anyone who saw the collision or captured it on video to contact the department's Traffic Bureau at (310) 349-2701, according to the Hawthorne Police Department. The same contact page lists a non-emergency dispatch line at (310) 675-4444 for people who have information that might help but do not require an immediate response.

Why This Intersection Matters

Imperial Highway serves as a key east-west route across the South Bay, and Hawthorne officials have long tagged the corridor for safety improvements. As noted on the City of Hawthorne capital projects page, the Imperial Highway Improvement Project is designed to upgrade traffic signals and pedestrian crossings in the area in an effort to cut down on crashes at high-volume intersections such as Imperial and Inglewood.

Investigators are still piecing together how the four-car pileup began and say the case remains active. This story will be updated as Hawthorne authorities release additional details.