Girl, Mother Are Killed in Accident

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

Another daughter, 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 two who died--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. A 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 might 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.