[Update: 7:35 p.m.] Pacific Coast Highway was closed in both directions at the Malibu Civic Center on Monday evening for an investigation into the crash of a suspect in an assault in Malibu earlier in the day.
At 7:34 p.m., alerts went out warning that PCH would be closed for two hours beginning at 7:30 from Malibu Canyon Road to Cross Creek Road, with a detour down Civic Center Way through the Civic Center.
Sheriff’s officials confirmed the closure was for an investigation into the earlier crash at Webb Way and PCH.
Sgt. Gonzalez with the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said the investigation would involve “Mainly just taking measurements of how the vehicles collided, the angles, the debris, those kind of things” and was expected to wrap around 9:30 Monday night.
[Update: 6:10 p.m.] Passengers in the vehicle crashed into by the assault suspect did not sustain known injuries, LA County Sheriff’s officials told The Malibu Times Monday. The driver attempting to flee the scene did suffer some minor cuts and bruises.
“The one driver suffered a facial lacerations and was transported to the hospital, and the parties in the other car were not hurt but were transported as a precaution,” Officer Gonzalez of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station described.
Varying accounts have surfaced as to how many vehicles were involved in the crash. Gonzalez also clarified that the incident was still under investigation and details could not be disclosed.
Multimedia Director Julie Ellerton was on scene shortly after the crash occurred and captured images of the suspect being handcuffed and then attended to by first responders.
Images may be considered graphic to some readers.
Traffic in Malibu’s Civic Center was snarled Monday afternoon due to a crash at Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way. The collision occurred when the perpetrator of an alleged assault in Western Malibu fled the scene in a vehicle, only to be pulled over by LA County Sheriff’s deputies near Cross Creek in Malibu. When the driver of the vehicle attempted to flee from officers, he “almost immediately” crashed into two occupied vehicles, officials said. The crash occurred around 4 p.m. Monday.
Sheriff’s officials were not able to give information about the extent of injuries.
“We’re still investigating the details,” Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Watch Commander Lt. Jim Royal told The Malibu Times.
“When the deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, he briefly left,” Royal described. “He initially refused to stop and then almost immediately crashed.”
The crash caused traffic backups on PCH in both directions.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
