Long Beach police are zeroing in on a hit-and-run driver they say triggered a violent rollover crash on June 21, leaving two people hurt and a brand-new SUV upside down in the middle of Seventh Street.
The wreck unfolded around 12:30 p.m. at Seventh Street and Magnolia Avenue, when a 2026 Honda Prologue heading westbound was sideswiped by a metallic blue Dodge Charger, according to investigators. The impact sent the Prologue careening into several unoccupied parked cars before it flipped over. Long Beach Fire Department crews took the male driver and female passenger of the Prologue to a local hospital with what police described as moderate injuries. The Charger’s driver took off, leaving the scene behind.
Detectives say they are now looking for a newer-model metallic blue Dodge Charger with black five-spoke wheels. The driver was described as a man in his early 20s, about 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, wearing a multicolored shirt, tan shorts, gray socks and gray sandals. Witnesses also reported he had blue braces, diamond stud earrings, and glasses with diamond accents. Anyone with information is urged to call Collision Investigation Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7132, according to MyNewsLA.
Police Seeking Witnesses
Investigators say this case will likely hinge on what the public can provide. Anyone who saw the crash, recognized the distinctive Charger, or captured it on camera is asked to contact the Long Beach Police Department’s Collision Investigation Detail.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or using the P3 Tips app. Detectives are also asking residents, drivers and nearby businesses to check dash cams, doorbell cameras and smartphone videos for any glimpse of the Charger before or after the collision.
Another Case In A Troubling Summer
The June 21 hit-and-run is just the latest in what has become a grim pattern on Long Beach streets this summer.
In late May, police released surveillance video of a dark GMC Yukon they say struck a pedestrian on East Second Street, then took off. Detectives asked the public to help identify that SUV, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
On July 14, a late-night collision near Ocean Boulevard and Golden Shore left a pedestrian dead after being hit by multiple drivers who failed to stop, according to MyNewsLA.
Local Traffic Safety Context
All of this is playing out against the backdrop of Long Beach’s ambitious goal to eliminate severe traffic injuries and deaths by 2026. The city adopted the Safe Streets Long Beach Action Plan in July 2020 as part of its Vision Zero strategy, outlined on the Safe Streets Long Beach page.
Those efforts focus on planning and street design to cut down on crashes. But collision detectives say that when drivers run from the scene, it is often quick witness reports and clear video that actually crack the case. For now, they are betting that someone’s camera, or someone’s memory, will be the key to tracking down the driver of that metallic blue Charger.
