A police sergeant was injured after her vehicle was struck by a domestic violence suspect who then fled the scene in Culver City early Tuesday morning, officials said.
A 42-year-old man behind the wheel of a 2005 Cadillac Escalade ran into a silver Ford Fusion carrying two women at the intersection of West Centinela Avenue and Bristol Parkway around 1:35 a.m., the California Highway Patrol said in a news release.
The Escalade then rear-ended an LAPD sergeant who was in the intersection at the same time, causing her SUV to veer left and hit a concrete pillar, authorities said. The man fled the scene west on Centinela Avenue.
He was involved in a domestic violence incident with the Fusion’s occupants in Inglewood, according to both CHP and Los Angeles police, though neither agency has released further details on the case.
In a tweet, Los Angeles Police Officer Kenny Lew said the crash was intentional. Lew also said the sergeant sustained multiple injuries and was “Lucky to be alive.”
The sergeant, a 50-year-old woman, suffered several broken bones and was in serious but stable condition. She had to be extricated from the wreckage before being taken to a hospital, the L.A. Fire Department said in a tweet.
The police vehicle — a Ford Explorer with its front driver’s side portion a mangled mess, appearing to have crumbled in to the point where the wheel and axle were no longer attached — was seen being towed from the crash site hours later, around 7 a.m.
The Fusion’s 36-year-old driver was unhurt, while the other woman in the car, 33, suffered minor injuries, CHP said.
Authorities were not releasing the names of any of the parties involved.
Detectives are now searching for the hit-and-run driver — who may be armed — but have seized his Escalade, officials confirmed.
A vehicle fitting the description of the Cadillac involved, with significant damage to its right side and front left fender, was seen being towed by authorities from a street in Ladera Heights around 9:30 a.m.
A man named Paul who lives on West 59th Street, near South La Tijera Boulevard, told KTLA he noticed the banged up SUV parked in a strange manner when he woke up around 5:30 a.m. After watching news reports about the sergeant being struck, he reported the vehicle to LAPD, he said.
The “facts and circumstances” surrounding the collision remained under investigation, CHP said, and no further details were available.
Anyone with information can contact CHP’s West L.A. area office at 310-642-3939.