1 Dead, Another Hospitalized After Multi-Vehicle Crash In North Hollywood
NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) — A man on a scooter was killed in a high-speed crash in North Hollywood, very close to the Hollywood Burbank Airport.
The crash happened on Vineland Avenue at Vanowen Street at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday and left a lengthy field of debris across the street. A heavily damaged red Audi convertible was left at an angle at one end of the crash site, while a white SUV was left on its side after having crashed into at least two parked cars.
LAPD investigators say the scooter was stopped at a red light when the Audi flew down the street and plowed into him. Witnesses told police the Audi's driver never even tried to hit the brakes.
One of the vehicles caught fire, but the flames were quickly put out.
The force of the impact threw the man off the motorcycle, killing him. Investigators say the speeding Audi pushed the motorcycle further down the street, then hit and flipped a parked and empty SUV, setting off a chain reaction crash with three other parked cars.
The woman behind the wheel of the Audi was taken to a hospital and has since been arrested on suspicion of murder. She was identified as 24-year-old Jessica Martinez of North Hollywood, and witnesses told police she tried to walk from the scene, but they followed her.
Police say Martinez is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and at least one drug at the time of the crash.
The scooter's driver was described as a man in his 20s.
The area was closed for several hours for the fatal crash investigation.