Suspected Drunk Driver Injures 2 Girls, Police Say
One of the victims was listed in critical condition Friday night. The other was in serious condition, police say.
KNBC-TV
Two girls were seriously injured Friday night after a suspected drunk driver slammed into the pair while they were walking with their mother in in Elysian Valley, an area of LA that blends into northeastern Silver Lake. Neighbors say they’ve long worried about the dimly-lit intersection where the crash occurred. Janet Kwak reports from Elysian Valley for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2012.
Two girls were seriously injured Friday night after a suspected drunk driver slammed into the pair while they were walking with their mother in the 2600 block of North San Fernando Road, according to fire officials.
One of the victims was listed in critical condition; the other was listed in serious condition, LAPD officials said. They are 6 and 12 years old, according to Sgt. Steve Bailey with Central Traffic Division.
The girls were crossing nourthbound Hallet Avenue with their mother when they were struck by a vehicle travelling westbound on San Fernando Road in Elysian Valley (map), an area of LA that blends into northeastern Silver Lake, Bailey said. The group was walking from the grocery store.
A 64-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, officials said.
Bailey said the man told officers he drank "a few beers about an hour or so ago."
The crash happened at about 7:30 p.m. in the intersection of San Fernando Road and Hallet Avenue, a dimly-lit area where residents say they've been trying to get a traffic light installed.
"It's hazardous at the best conditions," Bailey said, describing the area as having a crosswalk, but no streetlights or stop sign.
Witnesses described the scene as "horrific."
"This morning, me and my wife were talking about it, how dangerous this crosswalk is so for us to see this coming here is devastating," said a witness, whose daughter attends school nearby.
