A southern California man who crashed into a power pole and fire hydrant was sentenced to three years probation Wednesday for the electrocutions of two good Samaritans who tried to rescue him from his car, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Arman Samsonian, 21, of Glendale, pleaded no contest to one count of vehicular manslaughter in May.
In addition to probation, Samsonian was ordered to perform 70 days of community service and volunteer for a day at the county morgue.
On Aug. 22, 2012, Samsonian was allegedly speeding in his SUV when he lost control of the vehicle, struck a light pole and sheared a fire hydrant in Valley Village near the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue.
The combination of the the broken fire hydrant and exposed wires from the light pole created an electrified pool of water around the SUV.
Two women, Yolanda Zamora, 40, of Burbank, and Stacey Lee Schreiber, 39, of Valley Village, were electrocuted when they stepped into the water attempting to save Samsonian, who was trapped in his car.
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Samsonian's attorney, Andrew Flier, said he thought his client's sentencing was fair.
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"When I first met him and we were talking about the incident he cried," Flier said. "He's going to have carry this within himself for the rest of his life."
