Update: One dead, One in critical condition after violent car crash in Long Beach

On March 16, 2018 at approximately 6:55 p.m., officers from the Long Beach Police Department were dispatched to the area of Los Coyotes Diagonal and Outer Traffic Circle regarding an injury traffic collision. Early reports indicated a vehicle struck a tree and split in two.

When officers arrived, they found the driver had been ejected from the vehicle and was lying in the roadway on eastbound Los Coyotes Diagonal. The passenger was still in the vehicle, but was pronounced deceased at the scene by Long Beach Fire personnel.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 54-year-old male resident of Long Beach was driving a 2017 Maserati Quattroporte at a high rate of speed. The driver of the vehicle turned left from southbound Outer Traffic Circle to eastbound Los Coyotes Diagonal. The driver lost control of the vehicle while completing the turn and collided with a tree, which sheared the vehicle in half.

The vehicle came to rest in front of 4600 Los Coyotes Diagonal.

The driver of the vehicle was transported to a local area hospital where he remains in critical condition.

The decedent passenger was identified as a 42-year-old male from Buena Park. His identity is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Both occupants were wearing their seatbelts. The driver had a valid license. Alcohol is being investigated as a factor in the collision.

Anyone with information regarding the collision are asked to contact Detective S. Fox of the Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7355.