5 Injured in Collision of 2 Vans With 3 Cruisers Called to Pursuit

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy trying to join the pursuit of a suspected carjacker was hospitalized when his patrol car and two other cruisers collided with two vans at a South Bay intersection Monday, authorities said.

Two occupants in one of the vans suffered minor injuries in the 10 a.m. crash on the border of Hawthorne and Lawndale.

The deputy, William Palm, was listed in fair condition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center with a broken right leg, hip and left arm, said Sheriff’s Sgt. James Ramsey.

County firefighters used hydraulic equipment to free the deputy from the mangled wreckage of his overturned cruiser.

The patrol car “flipped over a couple of times,” said Deputy David Cervantes. “The light bar was torn off the unit and the roof crushed.”

Wreckage from the sheriff’s cruiser, which was using a siren and lights, was strewn across the intersection of Rosecrans and Prairie avenues.

Two other sheriff’s cruisers and a second private vehicle also were involved, authorities said. Deputy Bruce McCall suffered two broken ribs, and Deputy Timothy Crise suffered minor injuries.

The collision occurred as deputies from the Lennox sheriff’s station were responding to an assistance call by deputies in pursuit of a carjacking suspect on West Imperial Highway at South Vermont Avenue.

The suspect, who was later arrested, allegedly stole the car in Lawndale, authorities said. Henry Daniel Flowers, 23, was booked on suspicion of carjacking, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Southern California police pursuits have come under increasing scrutiny.

A crash caused by a driver fleeing Los Angeles Police Department officers in Sylmar resulted in the amputation of much of the left arm of a 2 1/2-week-old boy. The Los Angeles Police Commission is considering revising the LAPD’s policies on pursuits.

Deputies can initiate a pursuit, but are required to give commanders specific information from the field concerning their speed, location and specific reason for the chase, including what type of law was violated.

“The watch commander will take that information and determine whether it falls within department guidelines,” said Deputy Darren Harris. “The deputies also have discretion to cancel a pursuit at any time.”