Two Lives Claimed in Traffic Accidents

Two men were killed and a third was seriously injured in traffic accidents in the East San Fernando Valley late Saturday and early Sunday, Los Angeles police said.

The driver of a converted 1965 Volkswagen “Baja Bug” was killed in a head-on collision with another car on Sunland Boulevard near Wornom Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, said Sgt. Jim Gicking.

He said the driver of the Volkswagen, whose identity was not released, apparently veered into oncoming traffic, striking a 1984 Honda Accord. The man had purchased the “Baja Bug” only hours before the accident, Gicking said.

The driver of the Honda, Michael Thornton, 38, a Sunland teacher, suffered broken legs and head and chest injuries and was in critical condition Sunday at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.

In a second accident, a pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver at a Pacoima crosswalk early Sunday, police said.

Jesse Reyes, 53, was found lying in the middle of Laurel Canyon Boulevard at Mercer Street about 1:30 a.m. by a passer-by, Gicking said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

There were no witnesses to the accident, Gicking said.