Fiery crash in Compton that killed 4 during pursuit is investigated
Authorities are still investigating a fatal crash during a pursuit in Compton by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies that left four people dead.
Los Angeles County coroner’s officials have so far identified just one person killed in the early Saturday morning crash. Stacy Marie Garcia, 30, of Los Angeles was driving north on Wilmington Avenue in her gray Chevrolet Monte Carlo when it was broadsided by a red sedan heading west on Greenleaf Boulevard, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Peter Ramirez.
The red sedan, carrying two men and a woman, was fleeing deputies, authorities said. All four were pronounced dead at the scene, Ramirez said.
Saturday’s chain of events occurred when deputies responded to a report of multiple gunshots in the 100 block of Indigo Street. Nobody was injured in the shooting. Witnesses told deputies that a red sedan was involved in the incident.
Moments later, deputies pulled over a vehicle matching the description of the car. Deputies were approaching the vehicle on foot when the car allegedly sped away, triggering a police chase, authorities said.
After about two miles, the car being pursued ran a red light and crashed into Garcia’s vehicle before slamming into a light pole and a brick wall, flipping over and bursting into flames by a garage, authorities said.
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The vehicle was so badly burned that dental records and fingerprints may be needed to officially identify the three occupants, and it could take days to figure out the car’s make and model, Ramirez said.
He said the occupants were also tossed around, making it unclear who was driving.
Meanwhile, the collision sent Garcia’s vehicle veering into a wall and a wooden pole; it ended up crumpled on a sidewalk about 15 yards from the intersection.
Ramirez said investigators are trying to determine how fast the vehicles were traveling before the crash. The speed limit is 40 mph on Greenleaf Boulevard and 35 mph on Wilmington Avenue. Ramirez said the cars were traveling at at least the speed limit on their respective paths.
Investigators found no skid marks at the intersection, suggesting neither driver had time -- or took the time -- to brake before the crash.
At the scene of the collision, several family members told the L.A. Times two of the people in the pursued car were Larry Gilmore, 35, and Shawnice Osborne, 20.
Ramirez said investigators believe the red sedan was involved in the alleged shooting but did not provide details.
Anyone with information about the incidents can contact the Compton sheriff’s station at (310) 605-6500. Anonymous tips can be made by calling (800) 222-8477.
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Twitter: @latvives
Times staff writers Kurt Streeter and Alicia Banks contributed to this report
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