2 Die, 3 Hurt as Car Hits Utility Pole

Two people were killed and three others injured Friday when their car hit an electric pole near Stanton’s northeastern city limits, causing it to topple onto the roof of a house and start a small fire.

Witnesses said the car was involved in a drag race, but authorities couldn’t confirm that.

“There are lots of races on this street,” said Jaime Guzman, 34, owner of the house in the 10500 block of South Gilbert Street where the accident occurred. “They go at high speeds, like 65 mph.”

The accident happened about 4:45 p.m. when a Toyota Corolla carrying five people ages 16 to 20 for “some unknown reason swerved and struck the pole,” said Officer Amador Portillo, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.

Portillo said the Toyota was traveling 45 to 50 mph, but he couldn’t confirm reports that it had been cut off by another car with which it was racing.

“We haven’t determined the cause,” he said. “It looks like they were heading northbound on Gilbert [near West Cerritos Avenue] when

Hugo Ramirez, a passing motorist, saw the accident and stopped to help. “They were talking and kept yelling, ‘Help. Get us out. Help. Get us out,’ ” he said.

The driver was declared dead at the scene, police said. His four passengers -- pulled from the wreckage with the jaws of life -- were taken to hospitals, where one later died. Another passenger was reported to be in critical condition. Their names were not immediately released.

Guzman said he had just come home from work and was talking to his wife and children when they heard the “big noise” of the crash. “Of course we were scared,” he said. “The kids were all crying.”

The falling pole, which ignited a minor roof fire, caused about $1,500 in damage to the house, fire officials said.

“I looked up and I was thinking, ‘I wish they would slow down,’ ” said Freida Wolden, 55, who saw the accident from several houses away.

Said her husband, Eugene, 72: “It’s gotten so bad here that you can’t step into the street.”

Neighbors said they have long sought a traffic signal at the intersection near where the accident occurred.

“We’ve been begging and begging,” said Art Narmi, who has lived in the unincorporated area for 35 years.

“And the excuse we get from the county is always the same: There’s no money.”

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Times staff writer David Haldane contributed to this report.