A 27-year-old man, identified as Montae Cook, was killed when a vehicle he was in collided with a Los Angeles County fire truck. The crash occurred near the border of West Rancho Dominguez and Compton. The CHP is investigating whether the vehicle was involved in a street race. Contributing Editor reported
27-Year-Old Signal Hill Man Identified as Victim in Fatal Collision with Los Angeles County Fire Truck
Los Angeles, CA – In a tragic incident, a 27-year-old man lost his life after the vehicle he was occupying collided with a Los Angeles County fire truck. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the victim as Montae Cook on Wednesday. The devastating crash occurred at approximately 12:32 a.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of South Avalon and East Compton boulevards, near the border of West Rancho Dominguez and Compton, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Sean Lough.
The collision involved a speeding blue 2004 Chrysler, traveling westbound on Avalon Boulevard, and a northbound fire truck that was responding to an emergency call, as stated by the California Highway Patrol. Tragically, both occupants of the Chrysler, residents of Signal Hill, were pronounced dead at the scene. Alongside Montae Cook, the medical examiner’s office confirmed that a 26-year-old woman was the second victim in the fatal crash.
Due to the impact of the collision, three other vehicles sustained minor damage, with two of them being unoccupied parked cars, the California Highway Patrol reported. Thankfully, the individual in the third vehicle did not sustain any injuries. Four firefighters who were inside the fire truck at the time of the collision were taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. Fortunately, none of them suffered from any serious injuries.
Following the accident, the intersection where the collision occurred remained closed for several hours, causing inconvenience to the local residents. Witnesses present at the scene shared their accounts with investigators, suggesting that the vehicle involved in the crash may have been participating in a street race. However, a California Highway Patrol official clarified that there is currently no confirmation to support the notion that racing contributed to the tragic incident.
Tiffany Acker, who spoke to reporters, revealed that the woman who lost her life in the collision was her sister, Asia Allen-Bookman, who was also the mother of a 3-year-old child. Acker vehemently disputed claims of a street race being involved in the crash. She stated that her sister was on the phone with a friend when the collision occurred and informed them that they were being chased.
In light of this devastating incident, the South Los Angeles office of the California Highway Patrol is urging anyone with information about the accident to come forward and assist with the investigation. They can contact the office directly at 424-551-4000. Additionally, outside of regular business hours, individuals can reach the CHP’s Los Angeles Traffic Management Center at 323-259-3200.
As the community mourns the loss of Montae Cook and Asia Allen-Bookman, authorities continue their efforts to determine the exact cause of the collision. The investigation will shed light on the circumstances leading up to this tragic event, providing closure to the grieving families and ensuring that justice is served..