Fatal Traffic Collision on PCH in Long Beach

On Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., Long Beach Police officers were dispatched to the area of Pacific Coast Highway, south of Loynes Drive, regarding an injury traffic collision, which resulted in the death of a male adult.

When LBPD officers arrived they located four vehicles that had been involved in the collision. Six occupants of these vehicles were transported by the Long Beach Fire Department to local hospitals. One subject was determined deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2015 Nissan Altima driven by a 31-year-old resident of the City of Norwalk, was traveling southbound Pacific Coast Highway at a high rate of speed. The driver of the Nissan swerved into oncoming traffic striking a 1994 Nissan Truck driven by a 63-year-old resident of Long Beach. The Nissan Altima continued southbound in the northbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway, striking a 2010 Toyota Prius, which was traveling northbound Pacific Coast Highway, driven by a 58-year-old resident of Long Beach. This impact caused the Prius to be pushed into the southbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway and was then struck by a 2008 Honda Pilot traveling southbound Pacific Coast Highway.

Three of the four occupants of the Nissan Altima were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The two occupants of the Prius were transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The only occupant of the Honda Pilot was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The Long Beach Fire Department treated a fourth occupant of the Nissan Altima at the scene. Despite life-saving measures, the 30-year-old resident of Los Angeles succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The identity of this decedent is being withheld pending next of kin notification by the Los Angeles County Coroners Office.

All drivers remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. The drivers of the Prius, Honda, and Nissan truck were released at the scene.

The driver of the Nissan Altima, 31-year-old Mario Medrano, resident of the City of Norwalk, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and murder. He was booked at the Long Beach City Jail and is being held on $2,000,000 bail.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contact Detective Kelsey Myers of the Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7355. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple app store or Google Play), or by visiting www.crimestoppers.org.