Fire engine, SUV crash on Artesia
A Redondo Beach Fire Engine collided with an SUV on Tuesday in North Redondo as it maneuvered to respond to a call, causing major damage to both vehicles.
According to RBFD Chief Robert Metzger, Fire Engine 62 was traveling westbound on Artesia Boulevard at approximately 4 p.m. when it was alerted to an emergency response call.
“As they approached the intersection of Vail Road, lights and sirens on, they went to execute a U-turn, and were struck on the left side by an SUV that was trying to get around them,” Metzger said.
The SUV, Metzger said and pictures confirm, suffered “extensive damage” on the passenger side, for almost the entire length of the vehicle.
The fire engine took damage to the front end and driver’s side door and twisted the front bumper.
“It’s not what I would call ‘structural damage,’ “ Metzger said. “It’s significant, but all repairable.”
The estimated cost of repair to the fire engine is not yet available as of this writing.
Torrance police were called to the scene to perform the traffic investigation, as is common among similar incidents for public safety agencies. According to Torrance Police Sgt. Ronald Harris, the occupants of the SUV complained of pain but did not need transport to a local hospital.
Missing woman located at hospital
Redondo Beach Police asked for the public’s help in locating Charlotte Yieng Soun Pitzer, a 22 year old woman reported missing by her family early last week.
Pitzer was last seen near her home on the 2200 block of Rockefeller Lane around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20. She’s believed to have walked away from her home around that time.
According to police, Pitzer suffers from mental illness and was a potential danger to herself, which is why RBPD reached out to the public, treating her as a critical missing.
“We’re unsure of what she’ll do as a result of [her mental illness],” Lt. Fabien Saucedo said.
However, RBPD announced at 4:16 p.m. on Saturday afternoon that Pitzer was located at a local hospital and has been reunited with her family.
