Passenger Killed in Crash of Fleeing Car

A 21-year-old man fleeing police in a stolen car plowed into a building in South Los Angeles on Wednesday, killing the young woman who was his passenger, authorities said.

The pursuit started shortly after 12:20 a.m. on the Harbor Freeway when police came across the car. Checking the license plate, they discovered that it was stolen, said Officer Hayley Purece.

Officers called backup units and followed the car, which got off the freeway at Manchester Boulevard, Purece said. Traveling at more than 80 mph on Figueroa Street, the driver tried to turn left on 130th Street but crashed into a building.

Erika Ochoa, his passenger, died at Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Center, authorities said. The driver, Stanford Philpot, was not seriously injured, Purece said.

Philpot was booked on suspicion of murder and driving under the influence, Purece said.