Man Killed in Crash With Fleeing Car

A motorist was killed Friday night in a collision with a car driven by four teenagers fleeing police in Inglewood, police said Saturday.

Inglewood police said the pursuing officers broke off the chase several blocks before the crash because the teens had run a red light at a busy intersection at an “incredible rate of speed.”

Police declined to identify the four juveniles because of their age. The slain motorist was identified as Milton Clemons, a 31-year-old Inglewood resident.

The chase began near Beach Street and Ellis Avenue about 9 p.m. Friday when Inglewood police noticed a 1997 Infinity QE-4 being driven erratically, said Inglewood Sgt. Bill Thompson. When police tried to stop the car to question the driver, it sped away, he said.

Police followed the car north on Ellis Avenue and then east on 64th Street until it ran a red light at the busy intersection of La Brea Avenue and 64th Street.

“They discontinued the chase because the suspect car was not obeying the traffic laws,” Thompson said.

Minutes later, police came upon the fiery collision of the Infinity and a 1970 Datsun 210 driven by Clemons, Thompson said. Clemons was pronounced dead at the scene. An officer suffered smoke inhalation while trying to get to Clemons.

The Infinity allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of 64th Street and Overhill Drive and hit the Datsun, which had the right of way.

Police arrested two of the teenagers at the scene. The other two were arrested Saturday morning.

Thompson said it is unclear whether the four teenagers fled from police because the car may have been stolen. He said manslaughter changes could be filed because of the death of Clemons.