Crash survivor devastated over loss of friends

The family of the 18-year-old woman who survived the fiery car crash in Burbank on Saturday issued a statement offering thoughts and prayers to the loved ones of the five men and women who lost their lives in the incident.

Survivor Savannah Underwood’s family said she was devastated over the loss of her friends.

“I now have five new angels to watch over me,” Underwood said in the statement.

Underwood’s family also said they were “deeply grateful” to first responders, doctors and the Hook Burger deliveryman who initially pulled Underwood away from the vehicle after she managed to escape.

The deliveryman, who has not been identified, reportedly heard Underwood scream, climbed two fences and pulled her away from the car.

“She couldn’t really see much in the car because of the smoke that comes with the airbags,” said Underwood’s attorney John Gantus, adding that she was sitting in the passenger seat behind the driver.

“She doesn’t know how she got out,” he said.

Underwood sustained broken bones in her right leg and a crushed pelvis from the crash.
“She’s doing incredibly well given the circumstances,” Gantus said.

Police believe the vehicle was traveling south on San Fernando Boulevard at a high rate of speed and lost control near the Scott Road off-ramp of the 5 Freeway just after 4 a.m. After slamming into a concrete pillar, the vehicle caught fire.

Authorities were conducting a forensic examination of the vehicle – a Nissan sedan equipped with five seatbelts – to determine whether any mechanical issues contributed to the crash, police said.

Details on who was driving, or whether alcohol or drugs were involved was not available.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek

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