Crash Fatal to 2 Is Being Probed
Police on Saturday were investigating a traffic accident in which two 16-year-old girls were killed Friday night when a pickup truck carrying seven people smashed into a utility pole, authorities said.
Fredericka House of the 1300 block of Braddock Street and Sylvia Ariano of the 300 block of Encinitas Avenue were passengers in the pickup’s cab and were killed instantly about 9:30 p.m. when the driver lost control, struck a tree and then hit a utility pole in the 200 block of Meadowbrook Drive, deputy coroner Chuck Bolton said.
The driver, 18-year-old Emily Gutierrez, was listed in fair condition at Mercy Hospital, and four others who were riding in the back of the truck were transported to local hospitals, authorities said.
Rosario Rodriguez, 19, was listed in critical condition at Mercy on Saturday.
Cindy Palmer was in critical condition and Johnny Chargualaf, 19, was in fair condition at UCSD Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Jesse Marquez, 12, was in good condition at Children’s Hospital after being treated for scrapes, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
