Police Chase Ends in Death of Woman, 27

A 27-year-old Pasadena woman was killed and her companion critically injured in the mid-Wilshire district, police said, when their car rolled over twice and was pushed 90 feet after colliding with a vehicle that was being chased at high speed by police.

Luz Bernel died at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center Thursday night shortly after her car was struck broadside in the intersection of 3rd and Kenmore streets by a vehicle traveling in excess of 70 m.p.h. in a 30 m.p.h zone, Los Angeles Police Detective Bob Amstutz said.

Carmen Cardena, 47, also of Pasadena, was in critical condition at Queen of Angels Medical Center with cuts on her head and chest, a hospital spokesman said.

Police began chasing a car driven by Michael Knoble, 30, of Los Angeles, when he failed to stop for a red light and proceeded recklessly, Amstutz said. After the collision, he was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving, and was reported in satisfactory condition at County-USC Medical Center with a broken ankle and bruises.

There were 190 traffic accidents in Los Angeles last year as a result of 686 police pursuits, an increase of 10% from 1983, Lt. Raymond Turner said. Four suspects were killed in the accidents, he said, but there were no third-party fatalities.