Local News in Brief : Girl Diverting Traffic Struck by Car, Killed

A 14-year-old Canoga Park girl directing traffic away from the stalled vehicle in which she had been a passenger was struck by another car and killed, authorities said Sunday.

Sandra L. Garcia was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center with major internal injuries after the 11:20 p.m. accident Saturday, Los Angeles Police Officer Dennis Smith said. She died a short time later.

The accident occurred on Roscoe Boulevard near Havenhurst Avenue in Van Nuys. Garcia was standing behind the stalled car in the left westbound lane diverting traffic when she was struck by a car driven by Archie Jack Janzen, 75, Smith said.

Witnesses reported that the stalled car had its emergency lights on, police said.

But Janzen, of Van Nuys, told police that when he saw Garcia, there was no time to stop. No charges were being sought against Janzen, who suffered minor injuries in the accident, police said.

Three other people--Mary Garcia, 15, Lorena Bravo, 28, and Catalina Bravo, 20--were traveling with Sandra Garcia and were outside the car when the accident occurred, Smith said. It was unclear Sunday who had been driving.

All four occupants of the car had the same address, but police were unsure whether they were related. The victim was an eighth-grade student at Columbus Junior High School in Canoga Park, police said.