Youth Killed, 3 Injured When Car Hits Tree

Aspeeding car carrying four teen-agers missed a curve in Tujunga on Monday and hit a tree, killing one passenger and injuring the others, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. The car’s driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.

A 17-year-old youth, who lived in La Crescenta, was pronounced dead at Verdugo Hills Hospital after the 8:50 a.m. accident at Seven Hills Drive and Terecita Road, Officer Gary Weller said. Police did not identify the dead youth or his companions, also 17.

The dead youth, who was sitting in the car’s back seat, was thrown about 60 feet when the car slammed into the tree, Officer Frank Zdroy said. A girl sitting next to him was thrown 100 feet but escaped with a broken wrist, Zdroy said.

Witnesses told police the Ford Mustang was traveling between 45 and 55 m.p.h. at the time of the accident, Officer Mel Scholl said. A girl in the front passenger seat suffered minor injuries.

The driver, a Tujunga-area youth, was released to his parents, Zdroy said.