3-year-old girl, father killed after truck plows into Long Beach apartment

A 3-year-old girl and her father died after a hit-and-run driver in a pickup truck slammed into their apartment in Long Beach, officials said.

Long Beach city firefighters responded to the 6600 block of Rose Avenue, located near the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Cherry Ave. around 10 p.m. Tuesday regarding a hit-and-run traffic collision with at least 2 victims.

Long Beach police say a man in his 20's was driving too fast, lost control and slammed into the apartment building.  

One of the injured victims was taken to a hospital in critical condition and another was trapped underneath the vehicle, according to Long Beach Police Lt. Jose Flores. 

The victim rushed to the hospital by ambulance from the scene appeared to be a toddler, according to witnesses who reported hearing the distraught mother calling out for help. Hours later, the 3-year-old was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Her father died from his injuries. The father was identified as 42-year-old Jose Palacios Gonzalez and his daughter was identified as Samantha. 

The other victims include a mother and her 15-year-old son. 

It’s unclear if anyone else was transported, although a coroner’s van arrived at the crash site early Wednesday morning.

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"When I came out, I had seen the truck was slammed into the apartment," said neighbor Christina Marie.  "At that point the ambulance had already arrived and they were putting people on the gurneys. The baby was kind of lifeless at that point," she added.

Authorities say the driver of the truck ran from the scene and remains at large. The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation. A vigil was held Wednesday night, the community is urging to driver to come forward. 

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