A police chase in South Los Angeles ended in a crash Thursday night, sending three people to a hospital and raising immediate questions after witnesses said an uninvolved little girl was hit by an LAPD officer.
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, the pursuit took a serious turn when the child, who was not involved in the chase, was struck. The initial report did not identify the girl, the officer, the person being pursued, or the precise location of the collision.
Key Details Remain Unclear After South LA Crash
The station reported that three people were transported to a hospital, but it was not immediately clear whether the girl was among them or how seriously anyone was injured. The reason for the pursuit, the sequence of impacts, and whether anyone was arrested were also not included in the first public account.
LAPD Policy Requires Officers To Weigh Public Risk
The LAPD pursuit guidance says officers must continually evaluate whether a chase should continue, including the risks posed by speed, traffic, pedestrians, road conditions, and the setting of the pursuit. The policy also directs officers to consider whether a suspect could be apprehended later without creating an unreasonable danger to the public.
That policy language does not establish whether Thursday night's incident complied with department rules. Any administrative or collision review would need to examine the officer's actions, the suspect's driving, traffic conditions, witness accounts, and available video.
Another South LA Pursuit Recently Ended In A Fatal Crash
The crash comes weeks after a separate South Los Angeles pursuit ended in a fatal collision on May 23. The Los Angeles Police Department said a Tesla struck a Mercedes at Slauson Avenue and Denker Avenue, killing the Mercedes driver; officers later arrested the Tesla driver on suspicion of felony evading.
The two incidents are not connected, but both put renewed focus on the split-second decisions made when a pursuit moves through busy city streets. The child's condition, the circumstances that led to Thursday's chase, and any potential charges remain pending further information.
