Burbank Man Held in Deadly Hit-Run Spree
A Burbank man, who police believe may have been under the influence of a controlled substance, was arrested Thursday in a series of hit-and-run accidents on Cahuenga Boulevard that left one person dead and two others injured, authorities said.
Karl Matthisen, 39, faces numerous charges, including vehicular manslaughter, in the death of Elizabeth Alboyadjian, 50, of Glendale, whose car was allegedly struck by his vehicle, said Det. Ken Grik of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The first accident occurred about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday near Universal City, when Matthisen allegedly rear-ended a Honda Civic on Cahuenga Boulevard near Regal Place, Grik said. The Honda driver had minor injuries.
Matthisen continued southeast along Cahuenga Boulevard and allegedly hit two more cars from behind as they were stopped at a traffic light near Universal Center Drive. A 30-year-old Los Angeles woman complained of neck and back injuries and was taken to a local hospital, Grik said.
As he approached Woodrow Wilson Drive, Matthisen allegedly crossed over the double yellow lines and headed into oncoming traffic, hitting Alboyadjian’s older-model Mercedes-Benz, Grik said. She died at the scene.
Matthisen had minor injuries. He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment and arrested there Thursday, Grik said.
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