WHITTIER, Calif. — Five people were critically injured after a driver “going the wrong-way” in an SUV struck 25 Los Angeles County sheriff’s and police recruits who were on a training run Wednesday morning, authorities said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said recruits assigned to its STAR Explore Training Academy were struck in Whittier, about 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, around 6:30 a.m. PT. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said it was responding to a “mass casualty event.”
“They were running, doing their morning training exercise when this person bumped into them,” Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Sheila Kelliher said at a news conference.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in an update five people were in critical condition, one in all which is on a ventilator. 4 people suffered moderate injuries and 16 of the recruits had minor injuries. All injured recruits were taken to nearby hospitals. Among the most severe injuries included head trauma, broken bones and lack of limbs, he added.
“We’re just facing some life-altering injuries for some most severely injured recruits,” Villanueva said. “This is that this may be very, very odd, to say the least. I do not think I’ve ever heard of this.
“It looked like an airplane wreck. There have been so many bodies scattered in every single place in several states of injury that it was pretty traumatic for all individuals involved,” he added.
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The category had about 75 people, with recruits for the police departments of Bell, Glendale, Pasadena, El Segundo and UCLA, Villanueva added. Two of the injured recruits were from Bell, two from Glendale and one from Pasadena. The remaining injured were Los Angeles County Sheriff’s recruits.
Deputies got help from a close-by county fire station, but in addition immediately transported among the most badly injured on to hospitals, possibly saving their lives, said county Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone.
The motive force, identified as a 22-year-old male from Diamond Bar, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to a neighborhood hospital. Authorities said the motive force was detained “pending further investigation.”
Jennifer Garcia Tarara, 49, a Whittier resident who lives near the scene of the accident, walked to the world after being notified by a friend. Hours after the crash, Tarara remained in disbelief.
“It’s really sad,” Tarara told USA TODAY, adding that it was common to see recruits exercise along the road nearby Howard J. McKibben Elementary School where the crashed SUV ended up. “Recruits that were on the brink of put their lives on the road for us and something like this happens, it hits near home.”
Anthony Mendoza, who also lives nearby, told the Southern California News Group that the crash’s sound woke him up and that crashes are common on the road where the collusion occurred.
“It happens here lots,” Mendoza told the news outlet. “During school, the speed limit is 25 miles per hour. But cars are going 60 to 80 miles per hour racing down the road. That’s the best way it’s. I don’t understand.”
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Villanueva said the motive force was not intoxicated based on the outcomes of a field sobriety test, and the explanation for the crash is unknown. The vehicle was in a southbound lane before crossing right into a northbound lane, and a few recruits told responding authorities they estimated the vehicle was going around 30 to 40 miles per hour.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training bureau Capt. Pat MacDonald said two black and white radio cars were serving as safety vehicles for the group, and eight road guards wearing reflective vests were present. Villanueva said some people struck were behind the formation and had “no probability” to avoid injuries before the vehicle hit a lightweight pole.
“Thank God for that light pole, since the vehicle ultimately hit it and stopped versus possibly hitting more recruits,” McDonald said.
“Our hearts are with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s recruits injured this morning while training to serve their communities,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an announcement. “Jennifer and I send our greatest wishes for his or her recovery and stand with their family members and colleagues on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department during this difficult time.”
The California Highway Patrol is leading the crash investigation, Villanueva confirmed. Assistant Chief Charlie Sampson of the California Highway Patrol said officials were all possibilities, starting from an intentional act to impaired driving.
Contributing: Associated Press
Follow Jordan Mendoza and Charles Ventura on Twitter @jordan_mendoza5 and @ventura_charles
