3 Killed in Separate Car Accidents

Three people died in unrelated car accidents Sunday morning, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Adrian Chavira of Pacoima was killed in Saugus about 1:15 a.m. after his car struck a fire hydrant, overturned several times and smashed into a wall, said CHP Officer Frank Sansone.

Chavira, 24, was heading east on San Martinez Road at a high speed when he lost control of his car near Morningside Drive, Sansone said. Chavira was ejected from the vehicle as it hit the wall of a business, Sansone said.

Authorities declared Chavira dead at the scene. Investigators believe he was driving under the influence of alcohol, Sansone said.

Two drivers died in separate accidents on the Ventura Freeway within 90 minutes of one another.

In Agoura Hills, a man was killed and a passenger injured after their car struck a guard rail about 4:45 a.m. just east of Reyes Adobe Road, Sansone said. Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics declared the man dead at the scene and transported the passenger, Dagoberto Funez, 21, to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, he said.

In Encino, an 80-year-old woman was killed after her car struck the center divider and was then hit by another car, Sansone said. Jane Fleischmann of Sherman Oaks was driving west on the Ventura Freeway about 5:30 a.m., near the Balboa Boulevard exit, when her vehicle moved across four lanes and struck the divider, he said.

Fleischmann’s car came to a rest in the fast lane with its headlights off, Sansone said. Jeremy Bembry, 21, of Ventura was unable to stop his car and struck the woman’s car, Sansone said. Bembry suffered minor injuries and was taken to Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center. Authorities declared Fleischmann dead at the scene.