Driver Dies After Vehicle Enters Water Near Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive

Crash is the latest in a series of fatal incidents reported near the same Long Beach corridor over the past two decades.

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Adrian Morales

Adrian Morales covers breaking news, public safety, and community stories across Long Beach for Long Beach Classic.

A man died Wednesday, July 22, after the vehicle he was driving went over the median and became submerged in the Los Cerritos Channel near Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle crossed over the center median before entering the water beneath the bridge.

A female passenger was able to escape the vehicle and was rescued from the water. The male driver was recovered from the submerged vehicle and transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The Long Beach Police Department’s Collision Investigation Detail is investigating the fatal crash. Officials said a more detailed news release is expected.

A History of Serious Crashes in the Area

Unfortunately, this is not the first fatal crash reported near Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive. A review of previous incidents shows the corridor has been the scene of numerous serious and deadly collisions over the past two decades.

January 2006

Sixteen-year-old Amanda Carter was killed after losing control of her Jeep while exiting the Garden Grove Freeway onto Studebaker Road. The vehicle went down an embankment, broke through a fence, and landed upside down in the Los Cerritos Channel. Witnesses attempted to rescue her before emergency crews arrived, but she died at the scene.

September 2011

Another vehicle entered the Los Cerritos Channel near the same freeway exit. News reports at the time noted that barriers had been installed after the 2006 crash in an effort to prevent similar incidents.

May 2017

A 51-year-old motorcyclist was killed after striking the raised center median and crashing into the bridge abutment near Loynes Drive.

April 2022

A 32-year-old motorcyclist died after losing control and striking the center median before crashing into the concrete barrier over the channel.

December 2023

Another fatal collision occurred at Studebaker Road and Loynes Drive, claiming the life of a 22-year-old driver.

January 2024

Two men were killed after a speeding SUV struck part of the bridge, caught fire, and plunged into the Los Cerritos Channel. One victim was rescued from the water but later died, while the second remained trapped inside the submerged vehicle.

August 2024

A 27-year-old woman was killed after her Honda Civic struck the bridge guardrail just south of Loynes Drive. Her passenger suffered serious injuries.

July 2026

Wednesday’s crash is now the latest tragedy added to that list.

While investigators have identified different causes in many of these collisions, including speed in several cases, the number of fatal crashes reported along this stretch of roadway has drawn attention over the years.

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