Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Injured in Crash in Long Beach

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy was injured early Tuesday morning in Long Beach after he collided with another vehicle after making an arrest, police said.

Just after midnight, the deputy from the Lakewood station was traveling southbound on Paramount Boulevard when a sedan traveling northbound crossed over the center median and crashed into the deputy car in what Long Beach police called a near head-on collision.

The prisoner and man driving the sedan were freed almost immediately after the crash, according to police. It took longer to free the deputy because the roof of the patrol car had to be removed to get him out.

Long Beach paramedics extricated the deputy, and he was taken to a hospital in serious condition, police said.

As of 7:30 a.m., the deputy was in stable condition recovering at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, said Sgt. Jernigan of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Lakewood Station.

The passenger of the deputy's car, who was arrested before the crash, and the driver of the other vehicle were also taken to hospitals in serious condition, police said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lakewood Deputy who was seriously injured in a traffic collision and to his family during this difficult time," Sheriff Jim McDonnel said in a statement. "We hope he can rest and have a speedy recovery. We appreciate the tremendous support from the community and in the Department as we come together to support one of our own."

All lanes of Paramount Boulevard were closed between South Street and Artesia Boulevard, but were reopened around 6 a.m. 

What led up to the crash was unknown. 

The Long Beach Police Department was leading the investigation of the crash. Anyone with information about the collision was encouraged to call 562-570-7355.

Toni Guinyard contributed to this report. 

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