Photos by Greggory Moore. 

A major collision at a Downtown intersection Tuesday resulted in injuries to three children, one of whom was transported to an area hospital.

According to eyewitness accounts, a light blue Dodge Grand Caravan minivan traveling westbound on Ocean Blvd. at around 4PM attempted to make a left turn in front of oncoming traffic, and a black Ford SEL traveling east in the right lane plowed into the minivan without having time to apply its brakes.

The minivan was knocked into the air and landed on its side at the southeast corner, while the Ford careened onto the sidewalk, dislodging two cement lions at the front of the Sovereign Condominiums, rolling along the sidewalk in front of the Blackstone Apartments, before finally coming to rest on the street half a block away.

The minivan was driven by an unidentified woman, with three young children as passengers. The woman and two of the children suffered what appeared to be minor injuries, while the third child was transported to Long Beach Memorial. The child’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The driver of the Ford, Danny Smith, told the Long Beach Post at the scene that he did not appear to be injured, and that on his end the collision was unavoidable.

“I’m coming through the light, and the car just turned in front of me,” said Smith, “and there was nothing I could do.”

Smith said the car traveled so far from the collision because “it would not stop.”

Eyewitnesses at the scene stated that the driver of the minivan appeared to be at fault.

“[The driver of the minivan] was turning, and traffic was still coming this way,” said one witness. “The [minivan] shouldn’t have turned.”

More as information becomes available.

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