West Athens, CA - Two LA County Sheriff's Deputies Hurt After Honda Collision Sends Patrol Vehicle Into Fire Hydrant

West Athens, CA (October 12, 2026) - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said two deputies were hospitalized after a Honda and a patrol vehicle collided at Vermont Avenue and 120th Street. The impact sent the patrol vehicle into a fire hydrant, officials said.

The crash was reported shortly before midnight on October 12. According to the department, the deputies were heading south on Vermont Avenue when their vehicle collided with a Honda Fit traveling west on 120th Street.

The patrol vehicle veered right after the initial impact and struck the hydrant at the southwest corner of the intersection, officials said. It came to rest on top of the hydrant while water gushed onto the street. Power was also interrupted in the immediate area, and both vehicles had major damage.

A female deputy who complained of head pain was taken to a hospital by ambulance, a department spokesperson said. A male deputy was also taken to a hospital with body aches. Neither injury was considered life-threatening, and the driver of the Honda also complained of pain.

The deputies were not responding to a call and were on routine patrol, according to the spokesperson. The California Highway Patrol and the sheriff's department responded, and an investigation into the cause is underway.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Los Angeles County

The California DMV requires a driver to file a report within 10 days of a crash that injures or kills anyone, or that causes more than $1,000 in property damage.

A crash scene clears fast, and details fade faster. These steps preserve what matters:

• Get checked the same day, even when the pain seems mild. Head and neck symptoms can build over hours.
• Ask which agency wrote the crash report and get the report number. Both the CHP and a sheriff's station can be involved in one crash.
• Photograph both vehicles, the signals, the lighting and the intersection before the scene clears. Note any skid marks.
• Write down witness names and look for cameras on nearby stores and homes. Footage is often overwritten within days.
• File the DMV report on time and tell your own insurer about the crash. Decline a recorded statement to any other insurer.

Claims After a Crash Involving a Sheriff's Patrol Vehicle in California

A sheriff's patrol vehicle belongs to a public entity. A claim by someone hurt in the other car therefore follows the California Government Claims Act, which adds a short deadline and a formal claim before any lawsuit can start.

California law gives emergency vehicles added protection when a deputy is responding to an emergency call or pursuing a suspect. The department said these deputies were on routine patrol and not responding to a call, which makes dispatch records an early piece of evidence. No cause has been announced.

• Who may be liable: The County of Los Angeles if a deputy's driving caused the collision, the other driver if the evidence points there, or both.
• What evidence decides it: Signal timing, CHP findings, data from the patrol vehicle, any dash or body camera video, and dispatch logs showing whether deputies were on a call.
• If fault is shared: California applies pure comparative fault, so damages are reduced by a person's share of blame.
• Deadlines: The crash happened on October 12, 2026. A claim against the county is due within six months under Government Code section 911.2, which puts the deadline at April 12, 2027. If the county rejects the claim, the deadline to sue is six months after the rejection notice. Claims against the other driver follow the two-year deadline, which lands on October 12, 2028.

Christian Contreras Law: Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Los Angeles County

The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is a Los Angeles firm led by founding attorney Christian Contreras. The firm has recovered more than $200 million for clients, including more than $30 million in 2025 alone.

Our Los Angeles County injury lawyers represent people hurt in crashes. The firm has also won multiple seven-figure civil rights recoveries against government agencies, so a claim that runs through a public entity is familiar ground.

We send preservation requests for vehicle data and video and file the government claim before the six-month window closes. We deal with the insurers and take the case to trial if an offer falls short.

Anyone hurt in a crash with a county vehicle faces a different claims process than a standard car wreck. Christian Contreras Law brings this to it:

• $200M+ recovered for clients
• More than $30M recovered in 2025 alone
• Takes cases to trial with 7+ jury trials each year
• Bilingual representation in English and Spanish
• Featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and Telemundo
• Perfect 5.0 Star Client Rating

Our Los Angeles office at 360 E 2nd St, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012 is the place to start in person. You can also call 866-836-6588 or write to us through the contact form.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.