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2 Drivers Accused Of Speeding Face Manslaughter Charges In Whittier Crash That Killed Innocent Woman

WHITTIER (CBSLA.com)   —  Two drivers officials say were driving excessively fast in Whittier Friday night, face manslaughter charges after crashing into another vehicle and killing the female driver.

CBS2's Greg Mills reported from the scene Saturday.

"You can lay in your bed, if you want to, and you can hear them racing up there. 80-90 miles an hour, it's not unusual, every night," says Jim Clemence, a Whittier homeowner who said street racing is the norm in the area.

The posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour. On the stretch of Colima Road that connects Whittier to Hacienda Heights, neighbors said people often race.

During the day he says the stretch of road is busy but at night it looks more like the Indianapolis 500.

"At night it kinda turns into a speedway," says Clemence.

Julia Campion added, "There's been so many accidents since I've lived here."

Police believe Friday's deadly crash began with a white Hyundai and a black BMW speeding north on Colima.

Whittier police say the two cars were accelerating as they came up a hill. They hit each other. That's when the Hyundai spun out of control and in to the oncoming traffic.

The Hyundai hit a Honda Accord. The Accord driver was killed. Her son was taken to UCI Medical Center with minor injuries.

Campion says there are so many accidents at the location that she routinely gets calls from worried family members checking on her -- including last night.

"We are always super worried. Like I said, my brother called me to make sure I was okay," said Campion.

Reaction on social media was along the lines of what Tiffany Palmer wrote.

"This is why I hate street racing so damn much," she wrote, "An innocent woman lost her life. People need to grow up. I hope both drivers are charged with her death."

The drivers of the Hyundai and BMW have been identified as 22-year-old Jacob Zamora of Anaheim and 22-year-old Corey Kiffer of Whittier. Both are facing gross vehicular manslaughter charges.

 

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