Local News in Brief : Vehicle Hits 2 Women Pushing Car, Kills 1

An Encino woman, who police said had been drinking, drove into two women pushing a disabled car, killing one and critically injuring the other, officers said Friday.

Melanie J. May, 40, was arrested on suspicion of felony manslaughter Thursday at the scene of the accident in the 5000 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino, said Los Angeles Police Officer Ed Padneau.

“We don’t have the results of the blood-alcohol test yet, but there were definitely signs that May was intoxicated,” Padneau said.

The accident occurred about 10:15 p.m. when Soledad Sanchez, 40, of Sherman Oaks and Nelly Terry Reimer, 36, of Los Angeles were pushing Reimer’s car, which had run out of gas, south in the far right lane on Hayvenhurst while Nelly Reimer’s husband, Oscar, 32, steered, Padneau said.

Padneau said May was driving about 40 m.p.h. when she struck the two adults.

Sanchez’s legs were severed at the knees, and she died at the scene, the officer said.

Nelly Reimer suffered multiple fractures. She was in serious condition Friday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Leslie Wither said. Oscar Reimer was treated for bruises and released Thursday from the same hospital.

The Reimers’ 7-month-old daughter, who was in the front passenger seat, was not injured, Padneau said.

May posted $2,500 bail and was released Friday from the Van Nuys Division jail, he said.