LA City Councilman Jose Huizar involved in Boyle Heights crash

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L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar was involved in a traffic accident Thursday in Boyle Heights. The Los Angeles Police Department says one person was detained for a possible drunk driving charge and one person was treated on scene for a minor injury.

Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was involved in a three-vehicle traffic collision Thursday evening, resulting in one injury.

The crash was reported at First Street and Boyle Avenue in Boyle Heights at 6:45 p.m., according to LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman. One person was treated on scene for a minor injury, LAPD said.

A spokesman for Fourteenth District representative Huizar called it a minor traffic accident and denied that alcohol played any role. 

“Councilmember Huizar was involved in a minor traffic accident this evening near First and Boyle near his home in Boyle Heights. LAPD gave the Councilmember a DUI sobriety test, which of course he passed. The councilmember is glad that nobody was seriously injured,” Rick Coca, a spokesman for the councilman, said in a statement.

The LAPD could not provide any immediate details on the vehicles, but both the Los Angeles Times and KTLA reported that a Saturn was struck from behind by a Toyota Highland hybrid, which was registered to the councilman’s office. A spokesman for Huizar could not immediately confirm whether the Toyota was a city-owned vehicle.

Huizar represents the city’s Fourteenth District, which includes Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights and downtown.