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WEST ATHENS, Los Angeles County, Calif., Oct. 14, 2026 — Two sheriff's deputies and a civilian driver were hospitalized with minor injuries after a patrol vehicle and a hatchback collided late Monday night, October 12, on Vermont Avenue, in West Athens.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department vehicle was heading south on Vermont Avenue around 11:53 p.m. when it collided with a black hatchback traveling west on 120th Street, according to an LASD spokesperson. The patrol vehicle then veered right and struck a fire hydrant at the southwest corner of the intersection, officials said.
The two deputies and the hatchback's driver were taken to a hospital. The sheriff's department said the deputies were expected to be released soon; no update was available on the driver's condition. Both vehicles sustained major damage, officials said.
The crash knocked out power in the surrounding area, and it was not immediately clear by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday whether service had been restored. The toppled hydrant continued spraying water onto the roadway, and authorities said the flow could not be stopped until the patrol vehicle was moved off of it.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision. CHP and sheriff's personnel remained at the scene into the early morning hours. No cause has been released.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
A Common Misconception About Intersection Crashes
Many drivers assume that right-of-way is self-enforcing, that if they have a green light or the lead position, an oncoming car will simply stop or yield in time. Intersection collisions like the one in West Athens show how that assumption breaks down whenever one driver's path crosses another's at speed, regardless of who had the signal or the stop.
The available data does not single out any single moment of inattention as the dominant culprit nationally. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 6,138,359 police-reported traffic crashes occurred in 2023, a volume that includes a wide range of circumstances at intersections, on highways, and on local streets alike.
That broad number is a reminder that no single factor explains most crashes. Weather, visibility, vehicle speed, and driver reaction time all play a role, and investigators typically need physical evidence, not assumptions, before assigning a cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most car accidents happen?
A large share of crashes occur at or near intersections, where vehicle paths cross and turning movements increase the chance of a collision.
How can drivers lower the chance of being in a crash?
Slowing down at intersections, scanning cross streets even with a green light, and avoiding distractions are basic habits that cut down on reaction-time failures.
What injuries are common in car accidents?
Common injuries include whiplash, bruising from seatbelts or airbags, and head or limb injuries, with severity depending on speed and impact angle.
What to Do After a Car Accident in West Athens, CA
If you're involved in a crash in West Athens, try to move to a safe area if possible and check yourself and others for injuries before doing anything else. Call 911 so paramedics and law enforcement can respond and document the scene.
Even if injuries seem minor, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional, since some injuries, like soft tissue damage, don't show symptoms right away. Make sure to exchange information with the other driver, take photos of the vehicles and surroundings if you're able, and ask for a copy of the police report once it's filed.
