Car Crash in Sylmar Kills 4, Injures 3 Critically

A San Fernando Valley man was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and felony manslaughter after four people were killed and three others, including two children, were critically injured Sunday in a head-on collision in Sylmar, Los Angeles police said.

The accident occurred just before 5 p.m. along a desolate stretch of San Fernando Road. A westbound old-model Chevrolet sedan carrying three men swerved into the oncoming lane and collided with a Ford Falcon station wagon carrying a man, woman and two children, said Sgt. Bob Farkas of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Names of the victims were being withheld until relatives could be notified, but police said the occupants of the station wagon were a Sylmar family.

It was not clear who was driving the station wagon, police said. The man and woman in the front seat crashed through the windshield and landed on the vehicle’s hood. Both died at the scene in the 13100 block of San Fernando Road.

A 2-year-old boy was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, where he was listed in critical condition with head injuries, said hospital spokeswoman Holly Lyons.

2nd Boy Critically Hurt

His 8-year-old brother was flown by helicopter to Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles, where he was listed in critical condition, according to nurse Russ Gill.

Two of the three passengers in the Chevrolet were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver suffered severe internal injuries and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was placed under arrest. He was listed in critical condition.

Police said a rescue helicopter, three ambulances and a fire truck company went to the scene.

A few bystanders watched from a distance as a police “skid team” tried to determine how the accident occurred. “They may be out there all night. It will be many hours,” said Sgt. Curtis Fesler.

One witness, a woman who was driving in front of the Falcon, said she just missed being hit by the Chevrolet, which she told police was being erratically driven.