3 dead, 1 hospitalized in Lynwood accident

Three people were killed and one was injured in a two-vehicle crash early Sunday in Lynwood, authorities said.

The crash happened around 2 a.m. at State Street and Tweedy Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

South Gate Police said the crash happened after patrol officers chased individuals they suspected of stealing a catalytic converter, KABC reported. Police later called off the chase because the suspect was driving at dangerous speeds, the station said.

LA County Sheriff’s Department officials told The Times on Sunday evening that they did not have enough evidence to suggest a car chase was responsible for the accident.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Two others were taken to hospital, where one died. The condition of the other hospitalized person was unknown Sunday evening.

The county coroner’s office identified two of the dead as James Griffin, 20, and Flavio Balderas, 60, KABC reported.