10 Hurt as Seizure Triggers Hawthorne Crash

Three people were critically injured and seven others were hurt Friday when a Tustin man suffering an epileptic seizure drove through a red light in Hawthorne and plowed into two pedestrians and two other cars, one of which was heading to a funeral.

Robert Heywood Jr., 50, was driving north on Prairie Avenue at about 10 a.m. when he suddenly had a seizure, hit the accelerator and sped through a red light at the intersection with Rosecrans Avenue, Hawthorne Police Officer Greg Chidley said.

Heywood’s car rammed a Volvo containing five people on their way to a funeral and then veered into two pedestrians and another car in the intersection, Chidley said.

Critically injured were Odetta David, 20, of Los Angeles, a pedestrian who was in the crosswalk, Myrna Dejean, 58, of Compton, the driver of the first car that Heywood’s car struck, and Heywood.

David, who suffered head injuries, was flown by helicopter to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where she was put on a life-support system, Chidley said. Dejean, who suffered internal injuries, was taken to Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, he said.

Also injured in the collision were Harris Dejean, 60, of Compton; Bob Decoudreaux, 57, and Juanita Decoudreaux, 59, both of Carson; Beverly Williams, 62, of Compton; and Lawanda Smith, 17, of Lawndale. All but Harris Dejean, who suffered serious back injuries, and Smith, who had two broken legs, were treated at local hospitals and released. Another victim was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Heywood, who suffered internal injuries, was listed in stable but guarded condition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a spokeswoman said. His 80-year-old father, Robert Heywood Sr. of Hawthorne, suffered head injuries, Chidley said.