Motorcyclist Critically Injured in Gardena Pickup Collision

GARDENA, CA – A motorcyclist was critically injured and a passenger suffered minor injuries Monday evening when their motorcycle collided with a GMC pickup in Gardena, police said.

The two-vehicle collision occurred shortly before 6 p.m. Sept. 28 near El Segundo Boulevard and Budlong Avenue. Gardena police officers and emergency crews responded to the intersection and found two injured people who had been riding the motorcycle.

Paramedics took the motorcyclist to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in critical condition. The passenger was taken to a hospital with injuries police described as minor. Authorities did not release either patient’s name, age, or an updated condition Tuesday.

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All Parties Remained at Scene

The crash was initially reported as a possible hit-and-run, but police later determined that everyone involved had remained at the scene. The pickup driver was not injured and cooperated with detectives. That correction established that investigators were able to speak with the driver and examine the GMC during the opening stage of the inquiry.

Police issued the corrected account Tuesday, the day after the collision. By then, the department was no longer seeking a fleeing motorist and instead described the GMC driver as a cooperating party. The update did not explain what information in the initial call had led to the possible hit-and-run classification.

Police did not identify the pickup driver or say whether the truck was privately or commercially owned. They also did not describe the direction of travel for either vehicle, the movement that preceded the impact or the location of the motorcycle and pickup after the collision.

Traffic Bureau Investigating

The Gardena Police Department Traffic Bureau continued to investigate Tuesday. Detectives had not announced whether either vehicle had been turning, entering the intersection or traveling through it at the time of impact. The available account also did not identify a suspected right-of-way violation or indicate that speed, distraction or impairment had contributed to the crash.

The department’s medical descriptions showed a substantial difference between the two motorcycle occupants’ injuries: the rider remained in critical condition after transport to Harbor-UCLA, while the passenger’s injuries were characterized as minor. Police did not say whether both occupants were wearing helmets or provide any additional treatment information.

No arrest or citation was reported. The pickup driver’s presence and cooperation did not resolve how the collision occurred, and police had not assigned fault while their review continued.

Investigators asked witnesses, including anyone who may have seen the vehicles immediately before the collision, to contact Sgt. V. Gomez or Investigator J. Zamudio at 310-217-6189. The department had not released additional findings or a medical update for the critically injured rider by Tuesday.