Los Angeles Fire Department officials said an adult male passenger in a custom-built kit car was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a man, was initially in grave condition and later died, authorities said.
[Ads /]
Four others were inside a sedan. The driver and front passenger were briefly trapped before being transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. The rear passengers of that vehicle were in serious but stable condition, fire officials said. One of them was believed to be as young as 15 years old.
The crash happened at about 2 p.m. in the 17500 block of Parthenia Street. Los Angeles police said the driver of the kit car lost control and veered into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle head-on.
A resident said he saw the car speeding westbound along Parthenia moments before the collision.
"When I looked out from my property I saw him fly by, and then all of a sudden I heard him lose control 'cause he was racing his engine like he was trying to correct himself and then all of a sudden, bam!" said Northridge resident Thomas Barker.
[Ads /]
The initial investigation cites speed as the primary collision factor.
Barker said he is not surprised by the tragedy. He added that drivers frequently speed in the area.
"It's a 45-mph zone but especially at nighttime, this is a speed trap, a speedway," Barker said. "Cars constantly fly up and down here."
Parthenia Street was shut down between White Oak and Louise avenues for the investigation.