Northridge police pursuit: Innocent driver killed in crash
One person was killed in a crash at the ending of a police pursuit at Lindley Avenue and Roscoe Blvd. in Northridge early Thursday.
Erick Barbosa-Guardado, 19, of Reseda was driving his car, when he was struck by the vehicle being pursued. Barbosa-Guardado was not involved in the pursuit and died at the scene.
Police spotted a suspect vehicle wanted in an armed robbery in the San Fernando Valley at about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle on Roscoe at White Oak Ave., but the driver did not yield, and officers began the pursuit. The suspect vehicle, a black SUV, was traveling westbound on Roscoe.
About a half-mile west, the suspect vehicle ran a red light at Roscoe and Lindley and crashed into the innocent driver in a Honda Civic traveling southbound on Lindley.
Two suspects ran from the scene, failing to render aid to the driver in the other vehicle.
The male driver of the suspect SUV was apprehended. The second suspect remained at large at 9 a.m. Thursday.
A loaded rifle was recovered from inside the SUV, according to LAPD Lt. Letisia Ruiz.
Barbosa-Guardado is at least the fifth innocent bystander killed as a result of crashes involving law enforcement pursuits in the past month.
On Jan. 31, two men were killed when their car was struck by the driver of an allegedly stolen pickup who was fleeing police in Panorama City.
On Feb. 5, a man and his wife were killed in a crash at the end of a pursuit near the border of Lynwood and South Gate involving suspects who were allegedly stealing catalytic converters. One of the suspects in that chase also died in
the crash.