Police said a single vehicle hit a divider under the Long Beach Airport runway early Saturday.
LONG BEACH, CA — Four people died early Saturday when a car crashed inside the Lakewood Boulevard tunnel beneath the Long Beach Airport runway and caught fire, authorities said. The wreck shut down a major stretch of roadway for hours as investigators worked to identify the victims and determine what caused the crash.
The collision happened at about 1:18 a.m. near the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and East Spring Street, police said. Investigators described it as a single-vehicle crash that left a sedan engulfed in flames inside the tunnel. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators, a rare step for a local roadway crash that can signal broader safety questions, while Long Beach police continue their criminal and traffic investigation.
Long Beach police said a 2008 Honda Accord was traveling southbound on Lakewood Boulevard when it struck the center median curb inside the tunnel and the driver lost control. The car then hit the center support wall of the underpass and quickly caught fire, police said. Firefighters arrived to find the vehicle burning and began efforts to knock down the flames. One woman was outside the car when rescuers reached the scene, but she died from her injuries, police said. Three other occupants were found dead inside the burned vehicle. Authorities described the victims as two men and two women, and said their names were being withheld until relatives are notified.
A witness who came upon the scene described the car as badly damaged and the response as urgent as firefighters tried to put out the blaze. The person said it looked like a violent impact inside the tunnel and that emergency crews worked in tight quarters under the runway. Investigators have not said who was driving, and they have not released the victims’ ages. Long Beach police said it was too early to say whether speed, distracted driving or impaired driving played a role, but investigators are examining those possibilities as they reconstruct the moments before the crash.
The crash forced road closures that rippled through the area around the airport and the busy Lakewood Boulevard corridor. Police shut down Lakewood Boulevard in both directions between Spring Street and Willow Street while collision investigators documented the scene and removed the wreckage. The California Highway Patrol also closed the northbound Lakewood Boulevard exit from the 405 Freeway for several hours, authorities said. The car was later towed away, leaving behind scorched pavement and crash debris that crews cleared before traffic was allowed to resume.
Officials have not said what may have caused the car to veer into the median curb, and they have not described any mechanical issues found at the scene. Police said no other vehicles were involved. Investigators are expected to review surveillance video from nearby businesses and traffic cameras, along with any available dash camera footage, to build a clearer timeline. They will also examine the vehicle’s condition, including tires and brakes, and look for evidence of steering input and braking before impact. Autopsies and toxicology testing are also standard in fatal crashes and can take weeks to complete.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s involvement added another layer to the investigation. The agency said it will send a team and expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days. Long Beach police said the NTSB reviewed footage of the crash and responded on its own, and that the department welcomed the assistance. Police also emphasized that the federal agency focuses on safety issues and is not directing the local investigation. When the NTSB joins a case, it can examine factors such as roadway design, lighting, barriers and whether a crash exposes hazards that could affect other drivers in similar conditions.
The tunnel where the crash occurred runs beneath the Long Beach Airport runway and carries traffic through a confined, concrete-lined stretch of Lakewood Boulevard. At night, the roadway can be quieter, but the corridor remains a key north-south route for people traveling between nearby neighborhoods, the airport area and the 405 Freeway. Investigators will likely take measurements inside the underpass, document the impact points on the curb and support wall, and assess whether the vehicle’s speed and angle of travel match the physical evidence. Police said they are also looking for information that could help identify the driver and understand who was in the car.
No arrests were announced Saturday, and investigators did not say whether they suspect any criminal wrongdoing beyond potential traffic violations. Long Beach police said speed and impairment were being investigated as possible factors, and they asked anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to contact the department’s Collision Investigation Detail. Detective Ashley Van Holland is handling tips, police said. As family notifications proceed, authorities are expected to release the victims’ identities and may provide additional details about the sequence of events, including whether the occupants were wearing seat belts and whether the car’s safety systems were triggered.
By late Saturday, the roadway had reopened and the burned vehicle was removed, but officials said the investigation was far from over. Police and federal investigators are expected to continue reviewing video and physical evidence in the coming days, and the NTSB’s preliminary report is expected within about a month.
Author note: Last updated 2026-02-21.