According to police, the car was speeding southbound on Rinaldi at about 11 a.m. when it nearly crashed into another car. The speeding car swerved, the driver lost control and the car crashed into a light pole, knocking it down. The small sedan burst into flames in front of Sierra Canyon School.
The passenger sitting behind the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver, according to police, was of on fire when he managed to get out of the car after the crash. He was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in critical condition.
"The other car was not collided into. I don't know if that person had stopped, but it was not involved in the traffic collision," said LAPD Captain Brian Pratt. "Definitely appears that there was too much speed coming over that hill. ... When you come down the hill, it's banked and sloped for a reason, to help control the speed, and unfortunately they were just going too fast."
Two other passengers were transported to the hospital in fair condition.
The individuals were not identified. They are believed to be between 18 to early 20s.
