Police Thursday released images of a Ford Mustang whose hit-and-run driver was believed to have been street racing a car that was involved in a collision in South Los Angeles that left two 9-year-old girls critically injured.
Two other people, including the driver of the black Chevrolet Camaro that collided with the victims' vehicle, were also severely injured, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The crash was reported at 8:58 p.m. Sunday at 723 West Florence Ave., Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.
According to the LAPD, 24-year-old Jazmin Torres was at the wheel of a vehicle turning south onto Hoover Street when it was struck by the Camaro, which was racing a black Mustang. One of the involved vehicles struck a utility pole after the crash, Sgt. Minh Nguyen of the LAPD's South Traffic Division said.
"I just started screaming trying to hear bot their names but I couldn't hear anything," Torres said.
According to a police statement "both vehicles were racing at a high rate of speed at the time of the collision."
"After the collision, the driver of the black Ford Mustang fled the scene without providing aid or identifying themselves, as required by law."
Firefighters responded and took Torres, the two girls and the Camaro driver, 39-year-old Franklin Winbon, to hospitals. All four were severely injured, police said.
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It was not immediately clear if Winbon was arrested or was facing charges. The black Mustang was described as a two-door with black rims, a black rear wing spoiler and possibly a light or tan interior.
"It makes me angry and it makes me sad," said Lety Garcia, mother of one of the two girls who remain in critical care. "Those are our babies and we're supposed to take care of them and it's something that we don't have in our hands right now."
Anyone with information about the collision or who recognizes the Mustang was urged to call (323) 421-2500 during regular business hours to speak with Detective Moreno or Detective Flannery.
After hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to the South Traffic Division watch commander at (323) 421-2577. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS or at lacrimestoppers.org.
