Guillermo Penaloza Obituary, Death – Long Beach police have apprehended Guillermo Penaloza, the driver who fled the scene of a fatal two-car crash on Friday evening. The accident occurred around 7 p.m. near 14th Street and Cherry Avenue.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, officers spotted Penaloza, a 34-year-old Long Beach resident, while conducting routine patrols. During a brief encounter, Penaloza had a verbal exchange with the officers before speeding away. Although the officers did not pursue him immediately, they did follow his vehicle for a short distance.
Shortly after, officers were dispatched to the site of the crash, which was initially reported as a hit-and-run. The investigation revealed that Penaloza was driving a Chevy Suburban SUV westbound on 14th Street at high speed. He collided with a Saturn sedan at the intersection of Cherry Avenue. The driver of the Saturn, a 33-year-old Long Beach man, was rushed to the hospital but later died. The passenger in the Saturn, an unidentified woman, is in critical condition at the hospital.
Following the crash, Penaloza abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Authorities established a large perimeter around the area and called in SWAT for assistance. Penaloza was located and arrested after approximately three hours of searching.
Before being booked into Long Beach Jail, Penaloza was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation. He faces charges including vehicular manslaughter, felony hit and run, possession of a stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest. His bail is set at $50,000.
The Long Beach Police Department is asking anyone with additional information about the incident to contact their investigators at (562) 570-7355.
