Eight Car Traffic Collision Leaves Two Hospitalized

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Date: March 19, 2010
Contact: Press Information Officer Corporal Jason Zuhlke
Subject: Eight Car Traffic Collision Leaves Two Hospitalized

Whittier, CA. – A major traffic collision in the intersection of Colima Road and Mar Vista Street involving seven cars and one semi-truck has left two people hospitalized. The collision occurred at 5:45pm as a white semi-truck traveled southbound on Colima Road, in the number two lane, approaching Mar Vista Street. At the time of the collision, other cars were stopped at a red light waiting to resume travel southbound on Colima Road. As the truck approached at an unknown speed, it collided with the rear of a silver Toyota which, in turn, collided with a stopped blue Honda van. Both cars were then pushed into the intersection colliding with turning traffic. The semi-truck and other cars involved in the collision continued traveling southbound into oncoming (stopped) traffic and came to a rest in the northbound lanes of Colima Road, south of the intersection.

Eight vehicles were involved in the collision and received various amounts of damage. The driver of the silver Toyota, a Hacienda Heights resident in his 50’s, was extracted from his vehicle by firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and air-lifted to Los Angeles County Hospital where he remains in critical condition. The driver of the blue Honda van was also transported to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital where she remains in stable condition after receiving moderate injuries as a result of the accident.

At this time the Whittier Police Department’s Traffic Division is investigating the collision.

Additional inquiries may be directed to PIO J. Zuhlke at (562) 945-8250.


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