2 Anaheim Men Die in L.A. Head-On Crash

Two Anaheim men died and three other people were injured in a head-on collision early Sunday along a curving stretch of Sunset Boulevard just east of the San Diego Freeway, Los Angeles police said.

Brian Roble, 20, and Darrin Squires, 19, died after the compact car Roble was driving east on Sunset near Thurston Avenue veered into oncoming traffic and slammed into another car about 12:40 a.m., said Officer Ken Brady of the Los Angeles Police Department West Traffic Division. A second passenger in Roble’s car, Jamie Rivas, 20, also of Anaheim, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to UCLA Medical Center, where he was reported in satisfactory condition Sunday afternoon.

The driver of the second car, Ronald Clark, 46, and his wife, Rita, 35, were taken to Santa Monica Medical Center. Clark, who is director of emergency medical services at the facility, underwent surgery Sunday afternoon. A report on his condition was not immediately available. Rita Clark was in satisfactory condition after being treated for various cuts and minor injuries, a hospital spokesman said.

Three Los Angeles city fire rescue units and engine companies responded to the accident. Police closed Sunset between Thurston and Bellagio Road for nearly four hours, routing traffic through Westwood.

Brady said a small amount of marijuana was found in Roble’s car. He said investigators believe Roble was traveling about 55 m.p.h. as he tried to negotiate the long, sharp turn on Sunset near Thurston. “That’s a tough turn to handle at 35,” Brady said. “It looks like the young man just lost control and swerved across. It was a real mess.”