Northridge : Driver Arrested After 5 Injured in Crash
Police arrested a man on suspicion of drunk driving after a three-vehicle accident Wednesday morning in Northridge in which five people, including a 2-year-old girl, were injured.
Russell Awni, 31, of Northridge was traveling east on Parthenia Street about 8 a.m. when he ran a red light at Reseda Boulevard and struck another vehicle, police said.
Awni’s car then “continued out of control and hit a Jeep” in the intersection, said Officer Frank Orlando of the Valley Traffic Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Awni was traveling with his 2-year-old daughter and a pit bull. The other drivers were Lee Kyun Gee, 50, and Edward Yorke, 57, both of Northridge. Yorke had a passenger, 21-year-old Ipolito Mola of Northridge.
All five were listed in stable condition in Valley-area hospitals Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The dog, unhurt, was handed over to animal control officials.
A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office in Van Nuys said that if convicted, Awni faces up to three years in state prison, in addition to fines, driver’s license suspension and impoundment of his car.
Police said they are considering seeking child endangerment charges against Awni in addition to drunk-driving charges.
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