Innocent Woman Killed In Apparent Street Racing Crash In West Hills
WEST HILLS (CBSLA) — A woman died Friday in West Hills after her vehicle was struck by an apparent street racer, police said.
The crash happened in the 24300 block of Vanowen Street shortly after 4 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
According to LAFD, the male driver of the suspect vehicle was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries and a bystander sustained minor injuries helping pull a person from one of the wrecked vehicles.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a tweet that two or three cars were allegedly street racing when one lost control and crashed into the woman's car.
Tragic incident in West Hills
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 20, 2021
Preliminary info is that two to three cars were street racing when one lost control, colliding into an innocent female driver who was declared dead at scene.
Street racing is illegal and can have serious & deadly consequences.
It's not worth it. https://t.co/YOjxJqNuNU
Police said the stretch of road has been a hot spot for illegal street racers.
"This area is known for its high speed and vehicles driving recklessly and vehicles you would typically think to engage in street racing," LAPD Sgt. Mark Guardado said. "They do meet here and up the street. We do enforce in the area for that reason, but as far as a collision actually being a verified cause of the accident, this is the first one that I'm aware of in over a year."
Police said they have some security video of the reported street race that they're using to reconstruct the accident and to see just how fast the cars might have been going.
Authorities said the male driver was being treated at a local hospital and was in custody. Police have not yet released the identity of the woman.