LONG BEACH, CA — A tragic afternoon in a residential Long Beach neighborhood has left a toddler dead and two others seriously injured after an SUV jumped a curb and struck them while they sat on the steps of an apartment complex.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 2, in the 400 block of Maine Avenue. According to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), the driver of a sport utility vehicle was reversing when the vehicle mounted the sidewalk, striking a woman, a young girl, and a female toddler.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Responding officers arrived to find three victims suffering from traumatic injuries. Due to the critical nature of the toddler’s condition, officers bypassed traditional ambulance transport, performing immediate first aid before rushing the child to a local hospital in a patrol unit.
Medical staff later pronounced the toddler dead. The two other victims—an adult female and a young female child—were transported to a nearby trauma center. Hospital officials currently list them in stable condition.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Chaotic Scene
Residents of the Maine Avenue neighborhood described a sudden and violent collision. One witness reported hearing the “screeching of tires” followed by a heavy impact.
“I heard a loud bang and then a scream,” neighbor Alisa Hill told local reporters. “It was the kind of scream where you just know something terrible happened.”
The victims were reportedly sitting on the exterior stairs of a residential building when the vehicle backed into them. While police have not officially confirmed the age of the deceased, neighbors indicated the child was likely between two and three years old.
Driver Cooperating with Authorities
The operator of the SUV, identified only as an adult male, remained at the scene following the collision. Lt. Hotchkiss of the LBPD confirmed that the driver is cooperating with investigators.
Key details of the investigation remain pending, including:
- Impairment: It is not yet known if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.
- Mechanical Failure: Investigators are examining the vehicle to determine if a mechanical malfunction contributed to the sudden reversal.
- Charges: As of Tuesday morning, no arrests have been made and no formal charges have been filed.
Pedestrian Safety Concerns
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding pedestrian safety in high-density residential zones. The 400 block of Maine Avenue remained cordoned off for several hours Monday as the LBPD’s Collision Investigation Detail processed the scene and collected evidence.
The department has not released the names of the victims pending notification of next of kin.
