A quiet afternoon turned into a fight for life after a single crash cut power to a Gardena block
One driver is in critical condition and neighbors lost power after a Honda slammed into a parked SUV on Budlong Avenue.
A single moment on a quiet suburban street can change lives in an instant. This week, one driver is fighting for survival after a split-second crash left a neighborhood in the dark.
WHAT HAPPENED
On June 3, just before 1 p.m., a driver in a Honda Accord was heading north on Budlong Avenue. The street sits just north of Rosecrans Avenue in Gardena.
For reasons we do not yet know, the Honda crashed straight into a parked BMW SUV. The force of the crash pushed the heavy SUV into a nearby utility pole.
The impact sheared the wooden pole right off its base. This sudden crash knocked out power for the surrounding homes and left the Honda driver with severe injuries. First responders rushed the unnamed driver to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in critical condition.
What the evidence shows
- 1 p.m.: The approximate time of the crash on Monday, June 3.
- 2 vehicles: A moving Honda Accord and a parked BMW SUV.
- 1 power pole: Snapped at its base by the force of the pushed SUV.
- 0 bystanders: No other people on the street were hurt in the crash.
- 1 hospital: Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where the driver remains.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
Our streets should be safe spaces for parked cars and walkers. When a clear midday drive ends in a near-fatal crash, we have to look at the design of our local roads.
Are we doing enough to slow down traffic in quiet areas? Speed limits and road layout can be the difference between a minor scrape and a fight for life.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Utility crews must work quickly to replace the snapped pole and bring electricity back to the block. For local residents, a simple trip to the store now comes with a reminder of how fast things can go wrong.
The driver remains in the hospital under close medical care. Police will continue to look at the scene to find out what caused the Honda to veer off course.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- What caused the driver of the Honda Accord to drift into the parked SUV?
- Were drugs, alcohol, or a medical emergency a factor in this crash?
- How long will it take for power to be fully restored to all homes on Budlong Avenue?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 7, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.
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