Hawthorne Police Sergeant Hospitalized After 2-Vehicle Traffic Collision

Hawthorne, Los Angeles County, CA: A Hawthorne Police Department sergeant and another driver were both injured in a traffic collision early Friday morning, Aug. 26, in the city of Hawthorne.

The Hawthorne Police Department reported that an HPD sergeant was working a scheduled patrol shift when a traffic collision occurred with another vehicle at the intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and 120th Street around 2:45 a.m. HPD said that when the collision occurred, “the sergeant was not responding to a call for service, nor was he in pursuit of any vehicle/person.”

The sergeant was driving a Ford Explorer SUV, and the other vehicle was a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, according to the department. Both the sergeant and driver of the Monte Carlo were injured in the collision and transported by ambulance to a local hospital where they remain at this time.

HPD reported that the sergeant is currently in stable condition as the extent and severity of his injuries continue to be assessed by medical staff. The driver of the other vehicle is currently in stable condition.

“At the request of the Hawthorne Police Department, the Torrance Police Department is handling the collision investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates that the collision occurred as a result of the Monte Carlo entering the intersection at a high rate of speed, against a red light,” HPD stated.

“The driver of the Monte Carlo was identified as Gary Johnson Jr., a 58 year old resident of Bell, CA. Johnson does have an outstanding unrelated arrest warrant (Vernon Police) and parole violation charge. He will be taken into custody on these when cleared for release from the hospital. Additional charges related to the collision might be added once that investigation has been completed,” HPD said in a statement regarding the collision.

Video: Keith Johnson, Photojournalist / KNN