The violent collision occurred shortly after 1 a.m. in the 6800 block of North Topanga Canyon Boulevard, near the Vanowen Street intersection. A Toyota Camry and an older-model black Mercedes-Benz were involved.
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The two drivers were street racing in southbound lanes when the Mercedes-Benz struck the Toyota, causing the second driver to lose control and slam into a pole, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said.
News video from the scene showed that the impact of hitting the pole nearly split the car in two.
One witness, Theo Georgescu, said the collision sounded like "something exploded." The sound was so loud, he said, he thought the crash had happened a few feet from where he was standing. He went around a corner to see if anyone needed help and realized the collision was about half-a-mile away.
A detailed description of the hit-and-run driver was not available.
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The driver who died at the scene was identified only as a man in his 20s. His name was withheld pending notification of next of kin.