An out-of-control car killed one spectator and injured several others who had gathered to watch an illegal street race on Christmas Day in Carson, California.
Video posted to social media appeared to show a black Cadillac sedan racing with a blue car before the two vehicles crashed into each other near a crowd of people around 1:30 p.m near East 230th and Banning streets.
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Deputy Trina Schrader told The Epoch Times that officers arrived to find 66-year-old Long Beach resident Daniel Patten Jr. injured, before the fire department pronounced him deceased at the scene at 2 p.m.
Patten—a photographer and videographer known as “Dano,” according to his Facebook page—was one of the spectators documenting the event and posting material on social media. Patten was struck by one of the cars after the driver allegedly lost control and veered into the crowd.
“There were a few other victims that were transported [to the hospital] with minor injuries,” Schrader said.
Shortly after Patten’s death, the Carson Sheriff’s Station posted on its Facebook page that a street racing arrest had been made near the 1000 block of East Banning Street, but the drivers who were racing that crashed into the crowd fled the scene and are still being actively sought by the authorities. No suspect description was given.
“Deputies responded and were able to catch up to multiple cars involved and affect a traffic stop on the vehicles,” the Carson Sheriff’s post stated, adding that drivers and spectators were arrested, cited, and released in the field, while some vehicles were impounded for 30 days.
“We have seen tragic accidents occur as of late, and we have worked hard to encourage those on the road to travel it with regard to their safety and the safety of those they share it with,” the post stated.
“Fees to break your vehicle out of car jail are pretty steep. We hope that this will cause these drivers to take pause before risking the safety of those they share the road with again.”
Illegal street racing is an annual event held each Christmas Day on Banning Street, according to CBSLA.
Patten’s close friends and girlfriend, who were not at the street racing event, held a vigil for him that night at the site of the incident.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Carson Sheriff’s Station at 310-830-1123. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
