On Sunday, February 7th, 2021, at approximately 3:59 AM, Hawthorne Police Department officers were dispatched to the intersection of Rosecrans and Cerise Avenue regarding a major traffic collision. When responding officers arrived on scene, they located an unconscious male driver lying next to a black Fiat with major front end damage. Hawthorne PD Officers immediately began to provide life saving measures; unfortunately, the male driver succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel.
Hawthorne PD Traffic Bureau investigators were called to the scene and conducted a follow up investigation. Preliminary evidence indicates the deceased driver was driving eastbound in the number two lane of Rosecrans Avenue at a high rate of speed. As the deceased driver approached Cerise Avenue, he collided into the rear of a commercial food truck, that was also travelling eastbound on Rosecrans Avenue. The traffic signal light for eastbound Rosecrans Avenue at the time of the collision was a solid green light. The driver of the commercial food truck remained on scene and cooperated with officers and investigators on scene.
A Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office investigator responded to the scene of the collision and took custody of the deceased male driver. The investigation and the cause of the collision is still on-going. The Hawthorne Police Department is asking for any witnesses of the noted traffic accident, who may have pertinent information and/or video surveillance footage, to please call Hawthorne Traffic Investigator Barlin at 310.349.2707.