Girl Dies of Hit-and-Run Injuries Suffered After Homecoming Dance
A 16-year-old girl who was struck by a hit-and-run driver as she left a high school dance died of her injuries Saturday night.
Lilia Barajas died at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center about 10 p.m. Saturday, Burbank Police Lt. Don Brown said Sunday.
She and a companion were hit by a car traveling on the wrong side of the street after they left the Glendale High School homecoming dance on Friday night at the Castaway restaurant, 1250 Harvard Road, Brown said.
Lilia’s companion, a 16-year-old boy, was treated for a broken arm at Thompson Memorial Medical Center in Burbank and released, police said.
“I have been here for 34 years and have seen a lot, but stuff like this really bothers you,” Brown said of the girl’s death.
Police said Lilia, a sophomore at Glendale High, had just celebrated her birthday. Her date was a student at Allan F. Daily High School in Glendale, according to school officials.
“This type of thing has never occurred before,” said Vic Pallo, spokesman for the Glendale Unified School District. “It is such a tragedy for it to happen, especially on her 16th birthday.”
Witnesses told police a black or blue-gray 1983 to 1987 Chevrolet Camaro was seen speeding from the restaurant parking lot.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
