Sheriff's SUV collides with sedan in La Mirada

LA MIRADA - A sheriff's sergeant and a civilian suffered minor injuries late Tuesday when their vehicles collided in a La Mirada intersection in front of BIOLA University, authorities said.
The crash occurred just after 10 p.m. at La Mirada Boulevard and Oakwood Lane, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Ray Ward said.
Sgt. Brian Neel, assigned to the the sheriff's La Mirada substation, was taken to a hospital for evaluation but expected to be fine, Ward said.
A 45-year-old woman who was driving a Mercedes-Benz sedan also suffered minor injuries but was not hospitalized, fire officials said.
The investigation remained ongoing, however it initially appeared that "she made a left turn in front of (the sergeant)," Ward said.
Firefighters spent about 15 minutes cutting the sergeant free from his SUV, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Fred Stowers said.
The sheriff's SUV sustained major damage in the crash, sheriff's officials said, while the sedan sustained moderate-to-major damage.
The sergeant was driving his black-and-white Chevrolet Tahoe SUV at normal speeds on routine patrol -- not with emergency lights and sirens on -- when the crash occurred, sheriff's Lt. Steve Kenny said.
Neel was southbound on La Mirada Boulevard in the SUV and the woman was making a left turn from northbound La Mirada Boulevard into the parking lot of BIOLA University when the vehicle met in the intersection, Kenny said.
The woman was not arrested, he said, and it was not clear Wednesday whether she would be cited.
The investigation is being handled by personnel from the sheriff's Norwalk Station.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.