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63-Year-Old Grandmother Dead, 3 Children Hurt After Car Jumps Curb In Valley Glen

VALLEN GLEN (CBSLA.com)  —   Authorities said one person was killed and three others (all children) were hurt when a car jumped the curb in Valley Glen Saturday afternoon.

The multi-vehicle crash occurred around 4:10 p.m. on the 12700 block of Van Owen Street, at Bellaire Avenue, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The deceased was described as a 63-year-old woman.

The three children  -- ages 7, 8 and 13 -- suffered injuries from minor to serious, officials said. The children are all expected to survive.

Officials said a driver lost control of his vehicle and hit another vehicle setting off a chain reaction crash which damaged as many as ten vehicles. One of those vehicles jumped the curb killing the woman and injuring the children.

The drivers of both vehicles were also injured.

KCAL9's Cristy Fajardo reported the deceased was the children's grandmother.

She spoke to people who heard and witnessed the crash.

"All I heard was a skid, then I turned around and heard boom, a collision, and something flew off," said Hector Hernandez.

A street filled with people heard the crunching metal. But it was the sight of an abandoned bicycle she said was most heart-wrenching for witnesses.

The grandmother and children were enjoying a stroll when the car jumped the curb and struck them.

"I just called 911 as soon as I could," said Harout Petrosyan. "They weren't moving at first. When I came outside, I was talking to the paramedics and the 911 operator and they started moving."

He saw the girls lying on the ground, their frantic mother and father beside them.

Police told Fajardo the 56-year-old driver of a white BMW was in the turning lane on Vanowen and crossed the double yellow line and clipped a Mustang.

"He just cut me off," said Carlos Martinez, the Mustang driver. He says the next thing he knew, his car started spinning and hit a parked pickup and car.

The BMW also lost control and hit up to five more parked cars before jumping the curb and hitting the family.

"One of the girls tried to run out of the way," said LAPD Detective Bill Bustos, "so we believe she saw the car coming at her."

The girl ran and left her bicycle but the car still struck her.

"I wasn't even worried about my car," said Petrosyan,, "I was just trying to get help for them.

Police do not believe drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.

The BMW driver was also hospitalized and police describe him as "cooperating."

Police are trying to determine if something criminal happened or whether it was all just a terrible accident.

 

 

 

 

 

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