WHITTIER, Calif. – Twenty-two recruits for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were injured, five critically, after a wrong-way SUV plowed into them and hit a light pole during their morning run in Whittier, authorities said.
LASD recruit in critical condition after hit by car
Of the 22 recruits hit, Los Angeles County fire officials said 14 recruits suffered minor injuries, four were moderately injured and five were seriously injured. The California Highway Patrol said the incident was reported at 6:25 a.m. on Wednesday near the intersection of Mills Avenue and Telegraph Road. After the impact, firefighters with LA County Fire Station 96 heard a loud crash and immediately rendered aid to the cadets and called for additional resources. Authorities said 20 law enforcement vehicles from various agencies arrived at the scene. Members of the LASD recruit class attend the Sheriff’s Training Academy and Regional Services Center (STARS) located in the 11500 block of Colima Street, which is about a mile and a half from the crash site. Whittier is located 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. CHP Chief Charlie Sampson said the 22-year-old suspect was heading south on Mills Avenue when he crossed into opposing lanes and struck the victims. The CHP is not releasing the suspect’s name at this stage of the investigation, but said he is a resident of Diamond Bar. The suspect was field sobriety tested and taken into custody. The results of the field sobriety test are unknown, while he was also slightly injured in the collision. Of the 22 hit, Los Angeles County fire officials said 14 recruits suffered minor injuries, four were moderately injured and five were seriously injured. However, Los Angeles County officials said those numbers are expected to fluctuate. “I just felt sick. Here were all those recruits on their morning run who basically fell through this driver,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, adding that the county is putting all of its resources into helping the victims. . “We hope they make it.” Angelica Musick, a friend of one of the victims told FOX 11’s Christina Pascucci that troopers believe the crash may have been intentional because they don’t remember the driver using his brakes.
The girlfriend of an injured LASD recruit is speaking out
A friend of one of the LASD recruits who was injured when an SUV plowed into them spoke exclusively to FOX 11. “He just told us that the car drove right into them and several of his classmates were seriously injured,” Musick said. “The driver was still on the accelerator so he was trying to break the window of the car just trying to get the driver to stop because he was still on the accelerator.” SkyFOX was on the scene and showed debris from the wreckage, as well as other patients being triaged by medical personnel.
11 in critical condition after car hits sheriff’s recruits
Officials said 15 cadets were hit by a car.
The circumstances that led the driver to hit the victims are being investigated.
A 22-year-old driver was going the wrong way when 22 LASD cadets were struck.
A neighbor told FOX 11 that recruits often jog in the area and run in packs wearing high-visibility vests.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Maroney and Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva were at UCI Medical Center in Orange City, where some of the victims were taken for treatment.
Roads in the area are expected to be closed for hours for the investigation.
No further information was immediately available.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol.
