"The cause of the collision was a result of a road rage incident where a suspect brandished a firearm at the driver of (a) Mitsubishi Outlander," LAPD Detective Juan Campos said in a statement.
The road rage started on Central Avenue between 56th and 43rd streets, and involved a black Chevrolet or GMC SUV, Campos said.
"During the road rage, the passenger brandished a firearm at the driver of the Outlander," Campos said. "The driver of the SUV blocked the path of the Outlander at Central Avenue just south of 43rd Street.
"Fearing that the passenger of the SUV was going to shoot at him, the driver of the Outlander conducted an evasive maneuver by driving around the SUV, onto opposing traffic, and made an immediate eastbound right turn onto 43rd Street," Campos said.