Racing Is Suspected in Deaths of 3 Teens

In the space of six hours Friday, three teenagers were killed in Pasadena and Sun Valley, in crashes that authorities said may have been caused by street racing.

Two of the dead were members of the varsity football team at Village Christian School in Sun Valley. A third player on the team was in extremely critical condition.

In the other accident, a 19-year-old riding with her four sisters -- the only one of them not wearing a seat belt -- was killed.

That accident occurred at 8:47 a.m. at 2925 Sierra Madre Blvd., near Pasadena High School, authorities said. A Honda carrying the five sisters, ranging in age from 7 to 27, was speeding north followed by a Lexus, said Pasadena Police Lt. Tom Pederson. The driver of the Lexus lost control and struck the rear of the Honda, which veered off the road and overturned several times, Pederson said.

Cyndi Urcuyo, 19, of Pasadena was killed. The driver, Ileana Urcuyo, 27, was not injured. Three other sisters in the back, ages 17, 10 and 7, sustained moderate injuries, authorities said.

The Lexus careened into a light pole, injuring both the driver, 18-year-old Luis Mendez of Pasadena, and his 17-year-old passenger, authorities said. Police did not know the extent of their injuries.

The second crash occurred about 2 p.m. in the 9900 block of La Tuna Canyon Road.

Two vehicles were speeding east when one, a Chevy Camaro, crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a pickup truck.

The two passengers in the Camaro, Christopher Oliver and Nicholas Roth, both 17, died at the scene, and the 17-year-old driver was in serious but stable condition late Friday, LAPD Officer Jason Lee said.

“They lost their lives unnecessarily because they were involved in an illegal street race,” Los Angeles Police Det. William Boost said.

Authorities would not release the driver’s name. “He’s a juvenile and potentially he will be arrested and booked for vehicular manslaughter,” Lee said. “It appears he was involved in illegal street-racing right before the accident.”

The two people in the pickup truck sustained serious injuries and were in stable condition, Lee said.

Officials at Village Christian School canceled Friday night’s varsity football game against Pasadena Poly at Kennedy High in Granada Hills.

“There was no way we can justify playing a game after what happened today,” said Dr. Ron Sipus, superintendent of Village Christian.

Sipus said the three teenagers were good friends who shared “a passion for life.”

The private K-12 academy will have counselors available Monday to help students cope with grief and develop “an awareness that they are not invincible,” Sipus said.

Investigators were looking for the other vehicle that may have been racing the car, reportedly a light blue Ford F-150 pickup.