Car Jumps Curb, Kills Woman, 52
A Pacoima woman who was taking her trash can to the street in front of her home was fatally injured by a car that jumped the curb, Los Angeles police reported Monday. The car’s intoxicated driver fled from the neighborhood on foot but was later captured, police said.
Police said Marcela Tautkus, 52, was taking the trash can to the curb at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the 9300 block of Haddon Avenue when she was struck by the car and killed.
The car was heading south at high speed when it crossed the northbound lane, struck a parked car and went onto the curb, police said. The car crashed into a fence after hitting the woman.
Police said the driver got out and ran away. But officers traced the car’s ownership and later arrested Salvador Gonzales, 36, of Pacoima, on suspicion of felony manslaughter, Officer Ted Reyland said.
Gonzales’ blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit of 0.10%, Reyland said. Gonzales was being held without bail at Van Nuys Jail.
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