Trio dead in solo car crash into tree in Torrance
Accidents
Three dead in solo car crash into tree in Torrance
Posted: 06/29/17, 8:29 AM PDT | Updated: on 06/29/2017
Three youthful Long Beach fellows who died in a car crash early Thursday had just left their overnight jobs at a Torrance warehouse for their lunch break when their car veered out of control and slammed into a tree, according to friends.
The crash happened just after midnight, leaving loved ones stunned as news spread the next morning.
“I didn’t believe it. I had to come see for myself,” Alexis Inda said as he stared at the scarred tree trunk on Van Ness Avenue just south of Del Amo Boulevard.
Coroner’s officials identified the car’s driver as Jacob Evans, 20, and one of the passengers as Henry Ramos, Nineteen. Both died at the scene of the accident, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
A 2nd passenger, an 18-year-old, died at a hospital. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives, but mourners at the scene said he was a close friend of Ramos’ named Oscar.
Police said the crash occurred about 12:Ten a.m. as Evans drove a yellow Dodge Charger south on Van Ness at high speed. After passing Del Amo Boulevard on the curved route, he lost control of the car, crossed into oncoming lanes, leaped the curb and slammed into the tree head-on, police said.
No other vehicles were involved.
Evans and his two passengers were trapped in the car when police and firefighters arrived, Torrance police Lt. Robert Watt said.
Police said they’re still investigating and don’t know why Evans lost control, but Watt said investigators don’t believe alcohol was involved.
Ramos and Oscar were longtime friends who grew up together in Long Beach and attended Cabrillo High School, said Jaime Rodriguez, who’s known Ramos since he was a few months old.
“I was born, and he was born, and — bam — friends right there for nineteen years,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he learned of the fatal crash in the middle of the night. His father roused him at about three a.m. to break the news.
“I burst out blubbering,” Rodriguez said. “That’s my brother.”
Ramos was a loyal friend who would literally fight for his loved ones if need be, according to Rodriguez.
Oscar, too, grew up in the same west Long Beach neighborhood and was part of a tight-knit group that treated each other as family, according to Rodriguez and Inda.
Neither Rodriguez nor Inda knew Evans well but they said he worked with Oscar and Ramos at the Puma athletic wear warehouse on Van Ness just north of Del Amo.
At the tree Thursday afternoon, a puny group of friends had carved their farewell messages into bark.
“I’m gonna miss you brother. P.S. Love you forever,” one said.
Another: “I will always love you, Jacob. Love, your sister.”
Afterward, the group paused and looked at the writings, not telling anything.
One man, Jonathan Isias, stared down at a stalk of purple allium flowers that looked like it had been plucked from a garden across the street and laid at the base of the tree.
Isias picked up a metal bolt about three inches long from among the car debris and shattered bark still splashed around the trunk.
He held it for a moment. Before the group left, he hurled it back down into the mess on the ground.
The crash site is in almost the same spot on Van Ness where five youthfull Torrance fellows were killed in two thousand when their car slammed into a utility pole near Del Amo Boulevard. Police said speed was a factor.
Three dead in solo car crash into tree in Torrance
Accidents
Three dead in solo car crash into tree in Torrance
Posted: 06/29/17, 8:29 AM PDT | Updated: on 06/29/2017
Three youthfull Long Beach studs who died in a car crash early Thursday had just left their overnight jobs at a Torrance warehouse for their lunch break when their car veered out of control and slammed into a tree, according to friends.
The crash happened just after midnight, leaving loved ones stunned as news spread the next morning.
“I didn’t believe it. I had to come see for myself,” Alexis Inda said as he stared at the scarred tree trunk on Van Ness Avenue just south of Del Amo Boulevard.
Coroner’s officials identified the car’s driver as Jacob Evans, 20, and one of the passengers as Henry Ramos, Nineteen. Both died at the scene of the accident, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
A 2nd passenger, an 18-year-old, died at a hospital. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives, but mourners at the scene said he was a close friend of Ramos’ named Oscar.
Police said the crash occurred about 12:Ten a.m. as Evans drove a yellow Dodge Charger south on Van Ness at high speed. After passing Del Amo Boulevard on the curved route, he lost control of the car, crossed into oncoming lanes, hopped the curb and slammed into the tree head-on, police said.
No other vehicles were involved.
Evans and his two passengers were trapped in the car when police and firefighters arrived, Torrance police Lt. Robert Watt said.
Police said they’re still investigating and don’t know why Evans lost control, but Watt said investigators don’t believe alcohol was involved.
Ramos and Oscar were longtime friends who grew up together in Long Beach and attended Cabrillo High School, said Jaime Rodriguez, who’s known Ramos since he was a few months old.
“I was born, and he was born, and — bam — friends right there for nineteen years,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he learned of the fatal crash in the middle of the night. His father roused him at about three a.m. to break the news.
“I burst out howling,” Rodriguez said. “That’s my brother.”
Ramos was a loyal friend who would literally fight for his loved ones if need be, according to Rodriguez.
Oscar, too, grew up in the same west Long Beach neighborhood and was part of a tight-knit group that treated each other as family, according to Rodriguez and Inda.
Neither Rodriguez nor Inda knew Evans well but they said he worked with Oscar and Ramos at the Puma athletic wear warehouse on Van Ness just north of Del Amo.
At the tree Thursday afternoon, a puny group of friends had carved their farewell messages into bark.
“I’m gonna miss you brother. P.S. Love you forever,” one said.
Another: “I will always love you, Jacob. Love, your sister.”
Afterward, the group paused and looked at the writings, not telling anything.
One man, Jonathan Isias, stared down at a stalk of purple allium flowers that looked like it had been plucked from a garden across the street and laid at the base of the tree.
Isias picked up a metal bolt about three inches long from among the car debris and shattered bark still splashed around the trunk.
He held it for a moment. Before the group left, he hurled it back down into the mess on the ground.
The crash site is in almost the same spot on Van Ness where five youthfull Torrance fellows were killed in two thousand when their car slammed into a utility pole near Del Amo Boulevard. Police said speed was a factor.
Three dead in solo car crash into tree in Torrance
Accidents
Three dead in solo car crash into tree in Torrance
Posted: 06/29/17, 8:29 AM PDT | Updated: on 06/29/2017
Three youthful Long Beach studs who died in a car crash early Thursday had just left their overnight jobs at a Torrance warehouse for their lunch break when their car veered out of control and slammed into a tree, according to friends.
The crash happened just after midnight, leaving loved ones stunned as news spread the next morning.
“I didn’t believe it. I had to come see for myself,” Alexis Inda said as he stared at the scarred tree trunk on Van Ness Avenue just south of Del Amo Boulevard.
Coroner’s officials identified the car’s driver as Jacob Evans, 20, and one of the passengers as Henry Ramos, Nineteen. Both died at the scene of the accident, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
A 2nd passenger, an 18-year-old, died at a hospital. His name was withheld pending notification of relatives, but mourners at the scene said he was a close friend of Ramos’ named Oscar.
Police said the crash occurred about 12:Ten a.m. as Evans drove a yellow Dodge Charger south on Van Ness at high speed. After passing Del Amo Boulevard on the curved route, he lost control of the car, crossed into oncoming lanes, leaped the curb and slammed into the tree head-on, police said.
No other vehicles were involved.
Evans and his two passengers were trapped in the car when police and firefighters arrived, Torrance police Lt. Robert Watt said.
Police said they’re still investigating and don’t know why Evans lost control, but Watt said investigators don’t believe alcohol was involved.
Ramos and Oscar were longtime friends who grew up together in Long Beach and attended Cabrillo High School, said Jaime Rodriguez, who’s known Ramos since he was a few months old.
“I was born, and he was born, and — bam — friends right there for nineteen years,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he learned of the fatal crash in the middle of the night. His father roused him at about three a.m. to break the news.
“I burst out weeping,” Rodriguez said. “That’s my brother.”
Ramos was a loyal friend who would literally fight for his loved ones if need be, according to Rodriguez.
Oscar, too, grew up in the same west Long Beach neighborhood and was part of a tight-knit group that treated each other as family, according to Rodriguez and Inda.
Neither Rodriguez nor Inda knew Evans well but they said he worked with Oscar and Ramos at the Puma athletic wear warehouse on Van Ness just north of Del Amo.
At the tree Thursday afternoon, a petite group of friends had carved their farewell messages into bark.
“I’m gonna miss you brother. P.S. Love you forever,” one said.
Another: “I will always love you, Jacob. Love, your sister.”
Afterward, the group paused and looked at the writings, not telling anything.
One man, Jonathan Isias, stared down at a stalk of purple allium flowers that looked like it had been plucked from a garden across the street and laid at the base of the tree.
Isias picked up a metal bolt about three inches long from among the car debris and shattered bark still sprayed around the trunk.
He held it for a moment. Before the group left, he hurled it back down into the mess on the ground.
The crash site is in almost the same spot on Van Ness where five youthful Torrance guys were killed in two thousand when their car slammed into a utility pole near Del Amo Boulevard. Police said speed was a factor.
