Police Arrest Driver Suspected of Leaving Scene of Fatal Crash

A Van Nuys man was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after he fled with his wife and two children from the scene of a car crash that killed a woman and injured two others, Los Angeles police said.

Ignacio Frias, 33, was found at his home a few hours after the crash at 10:30 p.m. Saturday that killed a 47-year-old woman at the corner of Woodman Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard, Officer Michael Murray said.

The woman, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was a passenger in a car driven by Jose Dejusus, 22, of Van Nuys. Dejusus was driving north on Woodman when he started to turn left on Roscoe. Halfway through the turn, the light turned red.

Frias, who was driving south on Woodman, ran the red light and slammed into the right side of Dejusus’ car, Murray said. The woman, who was sitting in the front seat, died at the scene. Dejusus was injured in the crash, as was his back-seat passenger, Marco Pantorja, 19, of Van Nuys.

Murray said Frias then helped his wife and two small children from the car and ran away from the scene. Police traced Frias’ address through his automobile registration. After his arrest, Frias failed a field sobriety test, Murray said. But it was unclear whether Frias was intoxicated at the time of the accident, Murray said.

Frias was being held at Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.