The recruits, running in formation on a street, were part of a training program at the nearby STARS center. Witnesses said the recruits, who often train in the neighborhood, were in a four-column formation when they were struck by an SUV that veered onto the wrong side of the road, plowed into the recruits and stopped after hitting a light pole. Twenty-five recruits were injured, five of them critically. Other injuries ranged from minor, including to the driver, to moderate. County fire officials initially said 22 recruits were injured, but that number was later updated to 25 by the sheriff’s department. “Tragedy has struck our department,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a news conference. Law enforcement personnel take a closer look at the wreckage of an SUV involved in a crash that injured nearly two dozen deputy recruits at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training academy class in Whittier, California on November 16, 2022. (Photo by Frederic J .BROWN/AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Villanueva described the injuries, including broken bones and head injuries, as life-altering and possibly life-threatening. Many of the victims’ family members arrived at hospitals, some by sheriff’s department helicopter, the sheriff said. The crash was reported about 6:30 a.m. in the 10600 block of Mills Avenue. The video showed a heavily damaged SUV with a crumpled front end on a nearby sidewalk near a downed light pole that was also hit by the driver. “They had zero warning,” said Capt. Pat McDonald, whose department oversees the academy. “Thank God for that light pole because the vehicle eventually hit it and stopped, as opposed to hitting more recruits.” Firefighters at Station 96 heard a loud crash after seeing the recruits run past the fire station, fire officials said. “After hearing the accident, they immediately responded with 20 response vehicles,” said Capt. Sheila Kelliher, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The driver veered from the southbound lanes and crashed into recruits who were running in formation, the sheriff’s department said. The recruits ran in four columns with eight road wardens wearing high-visibility reflective vests. Drill instructors and security vehicles accompanied recruits on the run, according to the sheriff’s department. Villanueva said he talked to recruits at the front of the formation. “It happened so fast,” Villanueva said. “They jumped out of the way, but the people behind had no chance. They never saw it.” The SUV was traveling about 30 to 40 mph, Villanueva said, citing reports from recruits. There were no signs of skid tires, he said. Green, yellow and red medical triage mats, indicating the severity of injuries, were placed on the road by first responders. Several recruits were taken to hospitals by ambulance. “We had a lot of resources on the scene and it was amazing to watch these patients get off the scene as quickly as they did,” Kelliher said.
Details about what led to the crash were not immediately available. The 22-year-old driver of the SUV, a Diamond Bar man, was arrested at the scene. The sheriff said a DUI breath and field sobriety test administered at the scene did not indicate the driver was under the influence of alcohol. A sheriff’s department pre-academy training center is located at the 11000 bock of Colima Road in Whittier. STARS Center is one of two pre-academy training sites in Los Angeles County. The programs include physical training and academic sessions. Participation in the program is voluntary and not required to become a trainee sheriff’s deputy. County Supervisor Janice Hahn said the victims represent about half of the current class. Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement. “Our hearts go out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s recruits who were injured this morning while training to serve their communities,” Newsom said. “Jennifer and I send our best wishes for their recovery and stand with their loved ones and colleagues at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department during this difficult time.” Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also issued a statement. “I am shocked to hear that a driver ran into a group of young sheriff’s academy students during their morning training,” Barger said. “These individuals represent the future of law enforcement, they have incredible courage and I have the utmost respect for wanting to serve their communities. I am watching this incident closely — it is senseless and tragic. From the bottom of my heart, I hope not the one was seriously injured.” The California Highway Patrol asked anyone with information about the crash to contact investigators at 562-868-0503.