Man Killed in Crash; Teen Driver Held

A 22-year-old man was killed and two teens were seriously injured early Monday morning in Northridge when their friend drove his vehicle into a light pole and a parked car, authorities said.

Xavier Chavez of North Hills, a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two 17-year-olds, a boy and a girl, suffered major injuries and were taken to local hospitals. The 18-year-old driver, David Sandoval of Los Angeles, was arrested and booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Police said Sandoval was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Tests revealed that his blood alcohol level was .10%, above the state legal limit of .08%, authorities said.

“He shouldn’t have any alcohol in his system. He’s 18,” said Officer Brian McClary of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

The accident occurred about 2:45 a.m. in the 16800 block of Nordhoff Street near Petit Avenue. Police said Sandoval was driving a 1986 Ford Taurus westbound on Nordhoff at a high rate of speed when the vehicle jumped the curb and clipped a light pole. The car then spiraled into a parked station wagon. The impact of the crash launched the parked car into the air and it landed about 85 feet away, McClary said.

No one in Sandoval’s vehicle was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, police said.

Both 17-year-olds were listed in good condition Monday at area hospitals.

The boy had major injuries, including a laceration to the throat; the girl suffered a broken leg and other injuries, police said.

Sandoval suffered a broken arm and lacerations to his face. He was recovering at the jail ward of County/USC Medical Center.

Police said they found unopened beer cans in the vehicle.