Tragedy Strikes After Christmas Program Ends with a Car Crash
Christmas is a time for hope and joy, and magic. Families are gathering everywhere just to spend time together and let the kids enjoy some presents. Tragedy struck as one person died and almost a dozen other people were injured on Wednesday. This happened when a car ran a red light and plowed into a group of people outside of a church in the Redondo Beach area.
The crash happened around eight o’clock that evening and was at the Pacific Coast Highway and Vincent Street which is right in front of St. James Parish.
According to Lt. Joe Hoffman from the Redondo Beach Police Department, a woman was traveling north on PCH and went through the red light at the intersection of Vincent Street. Her running the red light cause her to strike a group of pedestrians.
Woman Runs A Red Light and Injures Multiple People From Christmas Program
According to Sgt. Shawn Freeman, the vehicle kept travelling and eventually collided head on with another vehicle. Lt. Hoffman said that at least one adult died from the crash.
Lt. Hoffman also said that several of the pedestrian’s injures were life threatening according to the medical staff. Those injured pedestrians were transported to multiple local hospitals for treatment of their critical conditions. Lt. Hoffman also said that at least one of those injured pedestrians was a child. According to some of the witnesses at the scene, a lot of the pedestrians were just leaving the church after they had attended an elementary school Christmas program.
The driver is being detained by the local police. The driver is also being evaluated to see if this is a DUI case and any possible medical conditions.
According to the report, the CHP (California Highway Patrol) closed down the PCH from Emerald to Diamond streets due to the crash. They stayed closed until around 2 o’clock in the morning. Hopefully all those who were injured in this tragic crash will be healed quickly and make it home to their families.
Source: https://ktla.com/2014/12/17/at-least-12-pedestrians-injured-after-being-struck-while-leaving-church-service-in-redondo-beach/
Daniel A. Gibalevich
DAG Law Firm
