High Speed Crash at Pico and 12th Street Pins Three People inside Wrecked Prius

The Santa Monica Fire Dept says it rescued three victims from a car pinned against a brick wall at Pico and 12th Street. A Toyota Prius crashed agains parking meters, streetlights, trees, a fire hydrant and finally a building.

The accident occurred before dawn on Sunday morning, Feb. 9th. It was the latest in a recent string of serious car crashes in Santa Monica.

"The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the February 9th traffic collision in the area of 12th Street and Pico," writes Lt. Joseph Cortez, SMPD's new PIO, "and conducted an initial investigation into the cause of the collision. The officers on scene cited the driver for Misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence. He was not booked due to his medical treatment at the hospital. Our Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate the collision."

Cortez identified the driver as "Clinton Jeremiah Hewitt, 22 year old Male from Los Angeles." He was charged with driving under the influence or DUI.

The SMFD Press release reads as follows:

Santa Monica Fire Department responded to a traffic collision with a physical rescue. SMPD reported that a car driving east bound on Pico Blvd. at a high rate of speed crashed at 12th Street.

Santa Monica Firefighters found a single car up against a building with 3 victims trapped. The car had hit three parking meters, one city streetlight pole, 2 parkway trees, a fire hydrant and the building. Victims needed to be extricated from the car using the jaws of life and cutters.

Three paramedic engines and three ambulances transported everyone to the trauma center in Westwood. Water Department was requested to assist with the sheared hydrant and the Street Lighting Department was called to handle the streetlight and live electrical wires. --Captain Eric Himler, Santa Monica Fire Department