During what may have been a race with another vehicle on Saturday night, a speeding SUV carrying six passengers lost control after hitting the center divider, leading to the death of 29-year-old Vernon Onofia of Long Beach.
Long Beach Police Department arrived to Del Amo Blvd. just east of Orange Ave. at approxmiately 8:52PM and found an overturned 2002 Chevrolet Suburban in the eastbound lanes of Del Amo. Four of the six passengers had been ejected from the vehicle and Long Beach Fire Department removed the two who remained trapped inside.
Onofia was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital while the driver and two other passengers are in critical but stable condition. The other two passengers were treated and released that evening.
According to witnesses, the SUV was seen possibly racing with a four-door black newer model Infinity–what investigators believe to possibly be a G35–while heading eastbound on Del Amo. After the SUV overturned, the Infinity was believed to have stopped briefly at the collision before driving away, eventually heading northbound on Orange. Detectives are still searching for the driver in order to obtain more information about the incident. They believe him to be a black male possibly 30 to 40 years of age.
It is uncertain whether alcohol was involved as the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Long Beach Police Accident Investigation Detective Brian Watt at 562-570-7355. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
{FG_GEOMAP [33.846917,-118.1768419] FG_GEOMAP}