Motorcyclist Killed; Simi Driver Arrested

A Simi Valley woman has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving after she drove through a red light in Northridge, hitting and killing a motorcyclist, police said Saturday.

Daphne Carey, 24, was booked at Van Nuys Jail after the Friday night accident, then released on $2,300 bail, said jail spokesman Walter Baker. She was not injured.

The motorcyclist, John Hamaker, 34, of Winnetka, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, said Los Angeles Police Officer Jack Hosford. Hamaker, who was not wearing a helmet, had head and chest injuries, Hosford said.

Carey was traveling east on Parthenia Street about 8:20 p.m. when her car ran a red light at Balboa Boulevard and struck Hamaker’s motorcycle as it entered the intersection, three witnesses told police. Hamaker was traveling north on Balboa Boulevard.

Two passengers in Carey’s car, her 8-month-old son and Robert Kocot, 23, of Panorama City, were not injured. The child was released to a relative of Kocot, Hosford said.

Carey was given a breath test at the scene that showed an alcohol level of 0.21%, more than twice the level at which a driver is considered drunk, a police spokesman said.