LOS ANGELES, Nov 15 – A high-speed crash in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles late Thursday claimed the life of a 77-year-old man and left two teenagers hospitalized, police and witnesses said.
The accident occurred shortly after 9 p.m. on the 3000 block of East 4th Street. Authorities said the elderly man was driving a Honda sedan and attempting a left turn when it was struck by an eastbound Mercedes carrying two teenagers.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators suggested the Mercedes was traveling at high speed when it collided with the Honda, spinning the vehicle into the intersection. The impact propelled the Mercedes off the roadway, where it crashed into a pole.
Emergency responders pronounced the 77-year-old man dead at the scene. The two teens, aged 17 and 18, were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Connie Lomeli, a nearby resident who witnessed the crash, said the Mercedes appeared to be moving at an excessive speed. “They were going pretty fast, maybe 85 or 90,” Lomeli said. She added that the teens “didn’t look like they were under the influence or anything.”
The Los Angeles Police Department said it was investigating whether speed, alcohol, or other factors contributed to the collision. Officials have urged anyone with information about the crash to contact investigators.
The incident has left the Boyle Heights community reeling, with residents mourning the death of the elderly man and expressing concern over the dangers of reckless driving.
No arrests have been made, and authorities are continuing to gather evidence as they seek to determine the circumstances leading up to the crash.
