Deadly head-on crash caught on video in Glendale; arrest made

Ashley Mackey Image
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Passenger killed after violent crash in Glendale
One person is dead and two others are in critical condition after a head-on crash in Glendale that was caught on surveillance video.

GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- A person was killed and two others were injured after a violent head-on crash in Glendale that was caught on surveillance video.

The collision happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday at Elm Avenue and Glenoaks Boulevard, according to the Glendale Police Department. Footage captured the moment the two vehicles crashed.

According to investigators, a black BMW heading westbound spun out after hitting the center divider and crashed into a white Honda that was traveling eastbound.

The impact killed one passenger in the Honda. Both drivers were injured and taken to a hospital, one of them in critical condition.

The driver of the BMW, 23-year-old Glendale resident Karo Margarian, was arrested and booked for felony reckless driving. He was released on bail.

Investigators are trying to uncover the cause of the crash, including if alcohol played a factor. Police initially said an arrest was made on suspicion of DUI. Glendale police Sgt. Victor Jackson says speed was a factor.

People who live in the area say speeding is very common along that stretch of road.

"Every night, I hear the cars racing down Glenoaks - we call it the Glenoaks Speedway, just because it's an unofficial drag racing strip for kids who just want to drive like idiots," one man said, adding that he'd like to see more traffic enforcement on that street.

Glendale is one of the California cities allowed to install speed cameras starting this year.

The crash is still under investigation.