Man Dies, 2 Hurt as Driver Loses Control

One man was killed and two others injured Sunday in Canoga Park when a car--thrown out of control by a dip in the street-- crossed the center line and was rammed by two oncoming autos, Los Angeles police said.

Evaristo Reyes, 23, of Canoga Park died after the car in which he was riding was broadsided twice on Vanowen Street near Shirley Avenue about 5:40 p.m., Officer Leona Thomas said.

The car hit a dip in the street, became airborne and landed sideways in opposing traffic lanes, she said.

The car was driven by Jose Heraldez, 20, of Canoga Park, who was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, Thomas said.

He was in serious but stable condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center with several broken bones, hospital officials said.

“He was driving too fast, hit a dip, went up into the air, and then lost control,” Officer Raymond Messerly said. “He wasn’t going straight down the street any more; he was going sideways when the other cars collided with him.”

Frode Thogersen, 60, of Canoga Park, who smashed into Heraldez’s car, was in serious but stable condition at the intensive care unit of Northridge Hospital Medical Center with a heart injury, facial cuts and broken ribs, said Nursing Supervisor Anne Lipman.

The driver and two passengers of a third car suffered minor injuries and were not hospitalized, Thomas said.