2 Dead, 6 Hurt After Vehicle Crashes Into Light Pole In Valley Village

VALLEY VILLAGE (CBS) — Two women were electrocuted Wednesday night and six other people were injured following a car accident in Valley Village, authorities said.

The crash occurred at 8:25 p.m. in the 1200 block of Magnolia Boulevard, at Ben Avenue, near Laurel Canyon.

The driver of a white SUV was attempting to turn the corner at Magnolia when he lost control and hit a fire hydrant and light pole, fire officials said.

As a result, the live wires from the pole came in contact with the water from the hydrant.

Two women were electrocuted trying to save victims.

"One of those victims was a neighbor. She was a resident who lived very close by. Maybe across the street. The other, as I understand it, was a husband and wife traveling in the same direction of the vehicle, and they came out to help the first lady who went down. They attempted to rescue the first woman. And in the process, she too, was electrocuted," LAPD Capt. Peter Whittingham said.

"I saw two women laying on the sidewalk and I saw three men trying to pull them away to safety, but they kept getting shocked. And I saw the women barely moving and then they were still," witness James Pike said.

Jerry Glassman, who lives across the street, says he heard the accident and saw another neighbor get knocked down attempting to assist the driver. He and other witnesses then ran to help.

"My first reaction was I got to get her out of there. She was in a couple inches of water I didn't want her to drown," Glassman said. "All three of us grabbed her and we all got the shock of our lives. I just remember blanking out a few seconds. I landed on all fours, got scuff marks all over me."

He then saw 40-year-old Irma Zamora pull up with her husband and jump out of her car.

"I was screaming at her, 'Stay away! Live wire, stay away!'" he said. "As soon as she put her hand on the woman she went down and landed right on top of her."

Zamora's husband went to help next.

"He made an attempt to get his wife and then got the shock, so he made a second attempt to get her again and we had to hold him back," Glassman said.

At least five people, including one police officer, were shocked and required treatment at local hospitals, according to Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Zamora's son says his mother always had done the right thing.

"She saw someone who needed help and she ran for them as soon as possible," David Aguilar said. "I know she's in a better place now and she's a hero in everyone's hearts."

Zamora and the other victim were pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said.

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