Sylmar Driver Held in Fatal Collision
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A Sylmar man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after a three-car collision in which one person was killed and two others injured, Los Angeles police said Sunday.
The accident occurred about 11:30 p.m. Saturday on Rinaldi Street east of Haskell Avenue in Granada Hills, a police spokesman said. Sgt. Ron Barnes said a car driven by William Lerma, 20, crossed into the opposing lanes and struck two other vehicles.
A passenger with Lerma was thrown out of the spinning car and later was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, Barnes said. Police identified the victim as Lerma’s cousin, Edward Lerma Jr., 22, of Oxnard.
Ruzica Pajcin, 37, of Granada Hills, the driver of one of the other vehicles, was in serious condition Sunday at Holy Cross Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said. The driver of the third vehicle, James Melton, 49, of San Fernando, received minor injuries, Barnes said.
William Lerma, who was in custody in the jail ward of County-USC Medical Center on Sunday, was believed to have been drinking when the accident occurred, Barnes said. He received minor head injuries, police said.
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