Crashes in N. Hollywood, Littlerock Kill 2

Two men were killed and six people injured, one critically, in separate multi-vehicle crashes Saturday afternoon.

One accident occurred about noon on the Hollywood Freeway in North Hollywood and the other about 2:30 p.m. on California 138 in Littlerock in the Antelope Valley, officials said.

In the North Hollywood crash, an out-of-control Honda skidded across three lanes of southbound traffic near the Roscoe Boulevard exit before colliding with a car in the carpool lane, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

The driver of the Honda, Juan Alcocer, 22, of North Hollywood, died of massive internal injuries at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, California Highway Patrol Officer Shirley Gaines said.

Alcocer’s passenger, a 23-year-old Pacoima man whose name was not released, is in critical condition at Providence Holy Cross Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

A 27-year-old woman in the second car was also injured. She was treated and released from Pacifica Hospital of the Valley, a hospital official said.

Three lanes of traffic were blocked until 1:30 p.m. as firefighters worked to remove the men from the Honda.

Witnesses said the Honda was traveling at a very high speed before the accident, Gaines said. Officers suspect alcohol may have been a factor, she said.

In Littlerock, a tractor-trailer and another vehicle collided, killing one man, injuring four other motorists and spilling 100 gallons of diesel fuel over California 138, CHP officials said.

Los Angeles coroner’s officials said late Saturday they weren’t yet able to identify the man who was killed because he was not carrying identification. They said they would attempt to use fingerprint records. Two seriously injured victims were airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. Two others with slight injuries were taken to Antelope Valley Hospital where they were treated and released, hospital officials said.

The spill, near the 96th St. E. intersection, caused the highway to be shut down for more than five hours, officials said.

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Times staff writer Solomon Moore contributed to this story.