On Friday, August 26, 2022, at about 2:45 AM, a Hawthorne police sergeant working a scheduled patrol shift was involved in a traffic collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and 120th Street. When the collision occurred, the sergeant was not responding to a call for service, nor was he in pursuit of any vehicle/person.
Both the sergeant, who was driving a Ford Explorer SUV, and the driver of the other vehicle, a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, were injured in the collision. Both were transported by ambulance to a local hospital where they remain at this time. 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 Monte Carlo is currently in stable condition.
There were no other vehicles involved in the collision, no passengers in either involved vehicle, and no passersby injured as a result of this crash.
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.
Any further inquiries as to the cause of the collision and status of the related investigation, can be directed to the Torrance Police Department Traffic Division Accident Investigator Craig Shiosaki, at 310-618-5557.
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.