2 Teens Die When Speeding Car Hits Palm Tree in Anaheim

Two teenagers were killed early Friday morning when their car slid broadside into a palm tree on the center divider of La Palma Avenue.

The driver, 16-year-old Louis Sanchez, was ejected from the 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit when the car hit the tree. The passenger, 15-year-old Jose Vasquez, was trapped inside the vehicle.

“There’s no indication of drinking,” Anaheim Police Investigator Rick Alexander said. “As far as we can tell, they just lost control.”

The driver traveling east on La Palma Avenue, traveling at more than 55 mph when the 2:42 a.m. accident occurred just west of Pacific Center Drive. The speed limit is 40 mph.

Neither was wearing a seat belt and both were dead by the time police and paramedics arrived. Alexander said a seat belt might have saved the driver’s life but would not have helped the passenger.

The area was deserted at the time of the accident and police have no witnesses.

“As far as we know, a passerby contacted a service station attendant and asked them to call police. They did not stop,” Alexander said. “The two boys were deceased when police and paramedics arrived.”

Both victims were residents of Anaheim and attended local high schools, police said.

An investigation into the crash is continuing. Any witnesses are asked to contact Alexander or Investigator Vince Delgado of the Police Department’s traffic bureau at (714) 254-1861 or 254-1835.