7 hospitalized, including 3 young children, after violent multi-vehicle crash in South LA

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Seven people were injured when a wanted robbery suspect crashed into a vehicle at high speed Wednesday in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of South Los Angeles, officials said.

The collision occurred shortly after 1 p.m. in the 200 block of West 81st Street, just east of the 110 Freeway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles police say officers were looking for the suspect but had not initiated a pursuit when the crash occurred.

Plainclothes officers were conducting surveillance on 83rd Street when they spotted the suspect driving and called for a helicopter to help as they planned to conduct a traffic stop. But before they could try to pull the vehicle over, it crashed at high speeds into a car that had six people inside - three adults and three juveniles.

Seven people were treated and brought to nearby hospitals.

A third vehicle was also involved in the crash.

The hospitalized patients included three young girls, ages 5 months, 4 years, and 5 years, two women, ages 24 and 36; and two men, ages 28 and 40, the Fire Department said.

The agency later said the two men and the 36-year-old woman were in critical condition, and the three children and the 24-year-old woman were in fair condition. No other information about the patients was immediately provided.

At least one of the cars slammed into a power pole, mangling the front end of the vehicle, according to video from AIR7 HD.

The suspect is expected to be booked for robbery and may also face charges in connection with the crash.