Wrong-Way Driver Killed after Crash with Tractor-Trailer on 710 Freeway

On Friday Nov. 12, 2021, at 11:45 p.m., LBPD officers responded to the area of the southbound 710 Freeway near 9th Street regarding an injury traffic collision involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer, which later resulted in the death of a male adult.

Through their preliminary investigation, officers learned the driver of a 1996 Toyota 4Runner was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of the 710 Freeway. The 4Runner collided with the freeway guardrail and subsequently collided with the trailer portion of a tractor-trailer that was traveling southbound. The Long Beach Fire Department responded to the scene, extricated the driver of the 4Runner from his vehicle, and transported him to a local hospital.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 23-year-old resident of the City of Bakersfield, remained on the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

On Nov. 19, 2021, the Long Beach Police Department was notified the driver of the 4Runner had passed away on Nov. 13, 2021. He has been identified as Robert Nunez, a 68-year-old resident of the City of Montebello.

While the investigation remains underway, at this time, speed and distracted driving are being investigated as factors in the collision.

Robert Nunez died one day after the crash but Long Beach Police say they weren’t notified of his death until Nov. 19, so they released details of the crash on Monday.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to contact L.B.P.D. Collision Investigation Detective Joseph Johnson at (562)570-7355. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 TIPS” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.