Illegal street race in Gardena ends with fatal crash

GARDENA, Calif. (KABC) -- An illegal street race in Gardena resulted in a fatal crash Tuesday, police said.

The collision happened near 155th Street and Vermont Avenue at 4:50 p.m.

A black Ford Mustang, which was involved in the street race, collided with a Honda traveling west on 155th Street and flipped over.

The driver of the Mustang was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Mustang was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.

Police say the Mustang was speeding more than 65 mph at the time of the crash.

"It sounded like a train hitting a brick wall or something," said eyewitness John Hall.

The driver of the vehicle the Mustang was racing, a 2008 or newer white Audi, possibly model A4, fled the scene south on Vermont Avenue. The driver of the Audi was described as a black man, possibly in his 20s.

"We'd like to talk to that driver and find out what happened," said Gardena police Lt. Steve Prendergast.

Ana Quintana took photos moments after the crash. She quickly spotted the body of the driver of the Mustang and his female passenger getting out of the car.

"She crawled out of the car all hysterical," Quintana said.

Quintana also took a photo of the innocent driver of the Honda who was hit.

"He was really like shaken up," Quintana said. "There was another guy that helped him to go to the sidewalk to sit down until they took him to the hospital.

Street racing was also suspected in a deadly hit-and run in Chatsworth on Feb. 26. Police say 21-year-old Henry Gevorgyan was driving a gray Ford Mustang that plowed into a crowd of onlookers, killing two spectators and seriously injuring another person.

"It's senseless. It's stupid. It's just ridiculous that this has to happen," Prendergast said.

Vermont Avenue from Redondo Beach Boulevard to 161st Street was closed to traffic for hours following the crash.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with further information was urged to contact the Gardena Police Department at (310) 217-9635 or (310) 217-6189.