(Update May 6, 2017) -- The driver of the vehicle (who is believed to have suffered a medical emergency), Latham Bell, 53, of Seal Beach was an assistant swim coach at Long Beach's Wilson High School and taught elementary school at LBUSD's Bixby Elementary School.

(Update May 5, 2017, 2:45 p.m.) -- The driver of the SUV that crashed into a restaurant on PCH just west of Cherry Ave. yesterday (May 4), injuring three patrons, was a 53 year old Seal Beach man believed to have experienced a medical emergency...and has passed away.

LBPD says the driver's 2006 Dodge Durango was headed west on PCH, drifted to the right, off the roadway, hit the PCH raised curb, crossed the sidewalk and collided into the restaurant's patio area. The SUV hit three patrons, including a woman who "was trapped under the vehicle and was initially aided by community members and subsequently extricated by Long Beach Fire Department personnel." [See LBFD PIO's information for further on this.]

LBPD says the three patrons' injuries "appeared to be non-life-threatening." The driver was later transported to a hospital in Los Angeles and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. (The LA County Coroner will determine his cause of death and notify next of kin.)

LBFD photo

LBFD photo

LBFD Public Information Officer / Firefighter Jake Heflin tells LBREPORT.com that the SUV's driver, a roughly 50 yr old man (who apparently suffered some type of medical emergency) veered into the seating area (patio) of the restaurant, struck some trees and then hit a roughly 40 year old woman (who was ordering food at a window) and two men (18 years old and 31 years old) who were seated and eating.

PIO Heflin says that information conveyed to him indicates the woman and the two men were all initially under the SUV. The two men managed to get themselves out but the woman was more seriously injured couldn't do so.

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A bystander/Good Samaritan from a nearby Tire store rushed over with a floor jack to try and lift the vehicle off the woman. At just about that time, the first LBFD unit arrived on scene and completed the job.

PIO Heflin says the two most seriously injured patients were the woman and the driver; they were both transported to a hospital in critical condition. The two men were also transported to a hospital (total of four patients.)

The accident is under investigation. Further as we learn it on LBREPORT.com.

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