A 71-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene yesterday after his vehicle collided head-on with a tree at Del Amo Boulevard and East 49th Street yesterday, officials announced Thursday.
According to a release issued by the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), police responded to reports of an injury traffic collision at noon yesterday and discovered Matthew Clifford Brown of Long Beach unconscious in a 1995 Saturn SL1.
The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) arrived, extricated Brown from the vehicle and performed CPR. Shortly later, Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses stated the driver “appeared to be leaning back in the seat as if he was ‘passed out,’ as the vehicle proceeded through a red light at Atlantic Avenue at slow speed.”
The police reported the vehicle continued west on Del Amo Boulevard over the raised median, just east of 49th Street, where traveled a short distance westbound in the eastbound lanes, continued over the curb of Del Amo Boulevard, and hit a tree head-on.
Police state the driver may have suffered a medical emergency when the incident occurred, and confirmed no additional passengers were seated in the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved.
The LA County Coroner’s Office is investigating the official cause of death.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Long Beach Police Collision Investigations Detective Steven Fox at 562.570.7355. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1.800.222.TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org
{FG_GEOMAP [33.8454906,-118.18684310000003] FG_GEOMAP}