Car Hits and Kills Mother, Injures Child

An 87-year-old driver who had slowed down to allow a mother and 7-year-old daughter to cross the street in front of the child’s school instead crashed into the pair when his foot slipped off the brake pedal and onto the accelerator, killing the mother and injuring the girl, police said.

Najat Azouri, 44, of Van Nuys and her daughter, Paula, stepped in between two parked cars in front of Valerio Street Elementary school at about 2:15 p.m. Friday, according to Officer Jimmy Chong of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

Oscar Fenton, 87, also of Van Nuys, was headed west on Valerio Street when he noticed the pair.

After slowing down, Chong said, Fenton’s foot slipped onto the accelerator. Fenton, driving a 1974 Dodge Dart, collided with the pedestrians and dragged them both about 40 feet while “numerous” horrified children and parents looked on, Chong said.

Chong said there would not be charges filed against Fenton because the Azouris were crossing about 140 feet away from the nearest crosswalk.

“He was fine, he was sober, his vehicle was in good condition, his brakes worked,” Chong said. “He was released at the scene.”

Najat Azouri was pronounced dead at 3:33 p.m. at Valley Presbyterian Hospital. Paula was in stable condition at UCLA Medical Center with lacerations to her forehead and multiple abrasions.