Jason Kandel

Woman, 77, Ejected From Tesla, Struck By BMW and Killed on 405 in Long Beach

A 77-year-old Hawaii resident was killed when she was ejected from a Tesla involved in a collision on the San Diego (405) Freeway in Long Beach and then struck by a third car, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Judith Blankenfeld of Hilo was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which was reported about 9:40 p.m. Monday on the southbound 405, south of Lakewood Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The 78-year-old man who was driving the 2018 Tesla and a second passenger, a 73-year-old woman, both from San Clemente, suffered minor injuries and refused treatment.

They were both wearing seatbelts, but Blankenfeld was not, according to the CHP. The preliminary investigation revealed the Tesla driver made an unsafe turning movement causing the vehicle to collide with a raised concrete curb at the end of the Lakewood Boulevard on-ramp.

The Tesla then traveled onto the right shoulder, where it struck a stopped, unoccupied 2011 Chevrolet, the CHP reported. The collision with the Chevrolet tore the right rear passenger door off the Tesla, causing Blankenfeld to be ejected onto the number five southbound lane, where she was struck by a 2008 BMW driven by a 54-year-old Long Beach woman, according to the CHP.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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