Young Mother Killed, Infant Hurt Critically in Crash

A parolee driving while allegedly under the influence of drugs ran a red light and slammed into another car late New Year’s Day, killing a 21-year-old woman and critically injuring her baby son, authorities said Wednesday.

Troy Shaw, 33, of Van Nuys was being held at Van Nuys jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter in the 11:20 p.m. accident at Sunland and Glenoaks boulevards, said Officer Jack Richter of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Shaw is charged in the death of Melissa Perez of Burbank, who was in the front passenger seat of the car that was broadsided. Perez died at the scene from severe head injuries. Her 22-month-old son, strapped into a rear car seat, was in critical condition Wednesday at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles with head and chest injuries. He was breathing with the help of a ventilator, hospital spokesman Steve Rutledge said.

Perez’s mother, Martha Cohen, 44, who was driving, was treated and released from Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills with injuries to her stomach and chest, hospital spokeswoman Tiffany Devall said.

Shaw was treated at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Panorama City for minor injuries. Police said he was on parole, but did not say of what he was convicted.

They said he appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident and that he did not have a valid driver’s license.