4thalamitoscrash

4thalamitoscrash

Photo by Sarah Bennett

A young girl’s leg was amputated Monday after a traffic collision at 4th St. and Alamitos Ave. pushed her and her bicycle through the window of a local business. 

Fire Department officials say the incident was reported at around 3:15PM and arriving units found that the 13 year-old and an adult male had both been struck by a vehicle. The girl was transported to the hospital with serious injuries; the man sustained what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries.

A woman who identified herself as the 13 year-old’s aunt posted on the Long Beach, Calif. Facebook page Tuesday morning, saying that her niece’s leg had been amputated and that the second victim was her adult nephew who was accompanying her niece to the beach. 

According to police, the accident occured when a Lexus traveling northbound on Alamitos Ave. failed to stop at a red light and struck a vehicle crossing the intersection on a right-of-way, causing it to veer towards the northwest corner of the intersection where it collided with the two pedestrians. The girl and the man were standing on the corner next to their bicycles, waiting for the light to change, when the Lexus pushed them into Peterson Lighting, pinning the girl between the car and business.

Witnesses who attempted to assist the young victim before authorities arrived told the Long Beach Register that her right leg was nearly severed at the thigh from the accident. The driver of the Lexus was cited and released at the scene. 

Peterson Lighting was open for business on Tuesday, though its damaged window was boarded up. 

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