Watch CBS News

Mother, 2 Young Girls Killed In Hollywood Car Accident

HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A woman and her two young daughters were killed Wednesday morning in a car crash.

Saida Juana Mendez-Bernardino, 27, and her two daughters — 4-year-old Stephanie Cruz and 6-year-old Hilda Cruz — died following a two-car accident in the 800 block of North Highland Avenue, Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Police say the 74-year-old driver of a grey 2004 Infiniti swerved onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into the family's 2002 blue Dodge Caravan.

"This is preliminary. It's been stated that there's been a vehicle driving northbound on Highland, and apparently it veered off to the south side of the street, still traveling northbound, and it collided into a vehicle traveling southbound," Officer Cleon Joseph of the Los Angeles Police Department said. "Apparently that vehicle spun over and hit a pole resulting in what we have here today."

The driver, a Lawndale resident, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

A public bank account has been set up through Bank of America to help the family pay for burials for the mother and her daughters. Donations can be made to account number: 164104555261.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.