Car Smashes Fence, Ends in Creek Channel

A Panorama City man who drove a car through a fence and into the Bull Creek flood-control channel near Van Nuys Airport late Wednesday was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, authorities said.

Todd Tashima, 26, was arrested after the 9 p.m. accident on the outskirts of the California Air National Guard base near Ruffner Avenue and Arminta Street, Los Angeles Police Detective Richard Ranck said.

One of Tashima’s two passengers, Mark Mahoney, 34, of Van Nuys, suffered a broken collarbone in the accident, Ranck said.

Tashima told police that he was driving north on Ruffner Avenue at Arminta Street when he tried to make a hard left turn, Ranck said. Arminta Street, however, extends only east, or to the right from that intersection. Tashima’s turn in the other direction took the car across a small parking area, through a wire fence and into the concrete-lined creek bed, Ranck said.

Security guards at the Air Guard base detained the three as Tashima and the other passenger, Sigrid Olafson, 26, of Van Nuys, tried to climb a second fence at the edge of the base, a base spokesman said.

Tashima was arrested after officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and reported that he was “combative,” Ranck said.

He was being held in Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail, police said.