(June 30, 2005) -- The LBPD photo above [lighting adjusted by us to bring out detail] and details below follow-up on a story first reported by LBReport.com shortly after it occurred. At approximately 12:25 a.m. on June 25, the LBPD unit and another vehicle were involved in a terrible crash at Los Coyotes Diagonal and Palo Verde Ave.

As LBReport.com reported at the time, the circumstances were indeed "both horrifying and heroic."

The LBPD unit with two officers inside was heading southwest on Los Coyotes on routine patrol. LBPD says a 1996 Mazda MPV, going in the opposite direction on Los Coyotes at speeds (LBPD says witnesses report) of 60-70 mph, attempted to turn left onto Palo Verde in front of the PD unit and the collision occurred without the Mazda applying its brakes.

Officer Michael Barth in the PD unit's passenger seat managed to exit the vehicle and ran to the driver’s side to assist his partner, Officer Binh Thanh Duong.

Officer Duong was seated behind the wheel. He was unconscious...and trapped. The force of the collision was so great that it wedged the engine compartment against the bottom of the driver's seat, trapping Officer Duong's leg.

As Officer Barth checked on his partner, the police unit burst into flames.

Now, details we didn't have previously.