LB Officer Seriously Hurt

Last night one of the newer Long Beach police officers was hurt in a head-on collision at Edwards and Broadway.

It is reported that he suffered broken legs in the collision which wrecked the LBPD's Chevy Tahoe he was driving. 

It appears that a westbound Broadway driver completed a left turn on Edwards without waiting for the second light.  The officer was traveling on Broadway at a high rate of speed, reportedly responding to a call.  It is also reported by LBPD that the Tahoe's air bags prevented more serious injury or death.

The driver of the turning car, which was a Mercedes , was issued a summons for failing to obay a control device.  Neither he or the other three occupants in his car were injured. 

On any road with a divider which is 30' wide or more, turning traffic must await a second red light before completing their turn. 

The Broadway divider on the east side of Edwards is 30 feet.  The divider west of the intersection is less than four feet. 

In the past, the law has been argued successfully both ways, but Long Beach prefers that all drivers wait for the second light to complete their left turns.  Improper signs have been installed in an effort to promote this.

We wish the officer a complete and quick recovery. 

Remember to watch for left-turning fools while tooling down Broadway.