Suspected Drunk Driver Arrested in Fatal Crash

A motorist was killed early Sunday when an apparent drunk driver traveling at high speed ran a red light in North Hills and collided with two other cars, Los Angeles police said.

Antonio Hernandez of Panorama City faces multiple charges for allegedly causing the accident at Roscoe and Sepulveda boulevards shortly before 1:30 a.m., said Officer Norman Nagengast of the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division.

Hernandez was speeding eastbound on Roscoe Boulevard when he collided with a motorist traveling northbound on Sepulveda Boulevard and then crashed into a third motorist traveling westbound on Roscoe, Nagengast said. Hernandez, who suffered a broken collarbone, was taken into custody.

Authorities said the driver of the first car hit by Hernandez, who was not identified Sunday, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the westbound car, identified as Ricardo Portillo, was not injured but also was cited for driving drunk, authorities said.

In a separate accident, a San Fernando man was fatally injured Saturday when he lost control of his car on Devonshire Street in Chatsworth and collided with another car.

Police said Ernesto Gormaz, 25, apparently was speeding when he attempted a lane change, lost control of his car and skidded broadside into a car driven by Lynn Miclea, 41, of Chatsworth. The accident occurred near Mason Avenue about 5 p.m., police said.

Gormaz was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he died Saturday night, authorities said. Miclea was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and released.