Second Boy Dies in Harbor Crash

The coroner today released the names of two boys who died when their family’s sedan plunged into the Los Angeles Harbor Thursday, and clarified a hospital mixup that led to an incorrect name being released Friday.

Abdelkrim Elmezayen, 8, and El Hassan Elmezayen, 13, were in the car with their parents, following a meal at a portside restaurant, when the car went over a dockside and into the harbor. A firefighter dove into the water and rescued the boys’ parents, but the children were lifeless as they were brought up.

The teen died Thursday night at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in San Pedro, Cronin said.

Los Angeles Police Department Officer Nuria Vanegas said 8-year-old Abdelkrim was on life support, but died around 2 p.m. Friday. That was at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center, Cronin said.

Police told City News Service their investigation’s nature has changed from homicide or suicide probe to a traffic accident probe. LAPD South Traffic Division Sgt. O. Green said homicide detectives had handed the investigation over to the traffic division about 2 a.m. Friday.

A witness said he heard tires screech just before the vehicle went into the water from the Ports O’Call Village parking lot.

Firefighters were called to the scene about 6:10 p.m. Thursday, Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department said. LAFD rescue divers freed the trapped children, he said.

Ninety-six fire department firefighters rushed to the scene, along with four fireboats, Humphrey said. Divers continued to search the vehicle and surrounding water as a precaution after freeing the two children, he said.

A hospital mixup led to the wrong name being released to the public Thursday, said Coroner’s Investigator Joseph Cronin.

In earlier reports, and per coroner’s Chief Craig Harvey, the 13-year- old boy was identified as Abdelkrim Elmezayen. The older child’s name is El Hassan, Cronin said today.

Both were residents of South Los Angeles, Cronin said.

Two adults, the parents of the boys, were able escape the vehicle as it sank and overturned in 30 feet of water near Berth 73 in San Pedro Thursday afternoon.

City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who lives in San Pedro, praised LAFD firefighter Miguel Meza, who jumped into the channel after the car went into the water.

“This man is a true hero in the City of Angels and I am so proud of him,” Buscaino said on his Facebook account.

OTHER PATCH HEADLINES

Video: 1 Child Killed, Another in Grave Condition When Family Car Plunges into Water at Port of LA

Preemie Grows Up to Save the Life of the Doctor Who Saved Him

Man Convicted in Grisly Redondo Beach Double Murders

Half the People in LA to Ditch their Cars? It’ll Happen, Insists Mayor

Officer Who Crusaded Against Drunk Driving Before being Killed by Intoxicated Driver, to Be Memorialized Today

Bad Day: Victim of Craig’s List Hook-up-Gone-Wrong, Beaten, Robbed then Arrested by Responding Officers

Judge Shaves 15 Years from Mandatory Sentence, Noting Rapist of 3-Year-Old Didn’t ‘Intend Harm’

• City News Service
• Photo credits: Twitter user KTLA ‏@KTLA

• Get Patched in! Sign up for free news alerts for your town.

  AGOURA HILLS | BELMONT SHORE-NAPLES|BEVERLY HILLS | BRENTWOOD | CALABASAS| CERRITOS-ARTESIA | CULVER CITY | HERMOSA BEACH | HOLLYWOOD | LONG BEACH | MALIBU | MANHATTAN BEACH | MARINA DEL REY | NORTH HOLLYWOOD-TOLUCA LAKE | NORTHRIDGE-CHATSWORTH | PACIFIC PALISADES |PALOS VERDES | REDONDO BEACH | SANTA MONICA |SHERMAN OAKS | STUDIO CITY | VENICE-MAR VISTA | WEST HOLLYWOOD | WESTWOOD-CENTURY CITY |WOODLAND HILLS