Mother, Daughter Killed When Truck Runs Red Light

A mother and her 9-year-old daughter were killed Saturday morning when a small pickup truck ran a red light in Northridge and slammed into their station wagon, authorities said.

Another daughter, age 7, was critically injured in the accident, which occurred about 8:40 a.m. at Tampa Avenue and Parthenia Street. She was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center with internal injuries, a broken leg and cuts, authorities said.

The victims--identified by a relative as Judith Lopez of Sylmar and her daughter, Beatrice--died at the scene, authorities said. The 7-year-old was identified as Jamie Lopez. The relative, Jaime Gonzalez, said Judith Lopez was separated from her husband and also had a 16-year-old daughter.

The unidentified male driver of the white Ford pickup truck was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was listed in serious condition.

Witnesses said the driver may have been experiencing a seizure and appeared “out of it” as he drove 60 to 70 mph southbound on Tampa and smashed broadside into the late-model Toyota Corolla four-door station wagon traveling eastbound on Parthenia.

“He looked like he was having a seizure and was moving and, like, twitching,” said Dan Dickey, a security guard who had been stopped at the traffic light. The Toyota driver’s door was caved in, almost to the right passenger door.

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As several onlookers crowded around the mangled station wagon, one noticed a little girl moving in the back seat, where she was pinned and struggling to breathe.

Three onlookers pulled at the metal that pressed against the girl’s neck.

Minutes later, paramedics and fire engines arrived and began trying to remove the girl. At times, 15 rescue personnel were involved in the effort.

One put an oxygen mask over her face as others pried at the right rear door and hatchback. She was freed after about 15 minutes and taken to the hospital.

A few hours later, when asked how the girl was doing, an emergency nurse said only, “Bad.”

But by early evening, Jamie was in surgery and expected to survive.

Saturday’s crash was the latest in a growing number of deadly collisions caused by speeding and running red lights.

In the Valley, speeding-related collisions more than doubled between 1997 and 1999, according to LAPD statistics. In 1999, 78 people were killed in Valley accidents, most in high-speed crashes.

Last year, the Police Department launched a crackdown on unsafe driving, outfitting officers with new radar and laser devices to catch speeders and approving a program to install cameras at 16 city intersections--including four in the Valley.