Woman Arrested After a Fatal Collision

September 21, 2010

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department South Traffic detectives are asking for the public’s help with providing any information about a traffic collision that occurred in South Los Angeles resulting in the deaths of two people.

On September 18, 2010, at around 2:55 p.m. LAPD South Traffic Division officers responded to a traffic collision call at Western Avenue and 77th Street.  When the officers arrived they discovered two cars that appeared to have collided with each other.  Inside of the first car was a female driver and four passengers who were suffering from injuries.  Two of the passengers in the car were unresponsive.  Inside of the other car was a man, also suffering from his injuries.

L.A. City Fire personnel responded and transported all of the injured parties to a nearby hospital.  The two unresponsive passengers in the Cadillac, 21-year-old Semaj Mcknight and 26-year-old Jessie Jackson, were pronounced dead at the hospital.  The others that were involved are in stable condition. Both Mcknight and Jackson were Los Angeles residents.  

South Traffic Division detectives’ investigation revealed that 20-year-old Los Angeles resident Tamesha Bingham was driving north bound on Western Avenue in a dark-colored 2003 Cadillac CTS with four passengers at a high rate of speed.  As the car approached 77th Street it crossed over the center divider into the opposite lane of traffic.  She crashed head-on into a man driving a 2008 Honda Accord who was traveling southbound on Western Avenue.  Bingham lost control of her car and it came to rest on private property.   Further investigation revealed that Bingham was under the influence of an intoxicant.  She was arrested and booked for Felony D.U.I Manslaughter (191 P.C.).

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call LAPD South Traffic Division Officer Rubin Mendoza at 323-290-4098. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.