A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and two other people were seriously injured in a head-on crash near the 91 Freeway in Long Beach early Tuesday, officials said.
The crash was reported about 12:15 a.m. near the Paramount Boulevard exit of the freeway, sheriff’s Sgt. Ernest Ferreras said.
The deputy had made an arrest and was traveling with the suspect in his patrol vehicle when a car going in the opposite direction crossed over the median in the 6100 block of North Paramount Boulevard, causing a head-on collision, said Lt. Eric Herzog with the Long Beach Police Department.
The deputy and the arrestee were taken to a hospital in serious condition, Herzog said. Fire Department first responders used hydraulic rescue equipment to get them out of the heavily damaged car, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release.
The deputy, who works at the Lakewood station, was conscious when he was transported, Ferreras said.
The driver of the second vehicle was also hospitalized in serious condition, Herzog said.
The Long Beach Police Department is handling the investigation.
It was unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role in crash, Herzog said.
Sheriff Jim McDonnell said in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lakewood deputy who was seriously injured in a traffic collision and to his family during this difficult time. We hope he can rest and have a speedy recovery. ”
KTLA’s Stephen Acosta and Melissa Pamer contributed to this story.
