Los Angeles: On Saturday, January 22, 2005, at about 1:45 p.m., a fatal vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision occurred at the intersection of State Street and the eastbound San Bernardino Freeway on-ramp.
A vehicle traveling southbound on State Street made a lane change that caused another vehicle to spin out of control. There were two 22 year-old female pedestrians standing on the southwest corner of State Street when the out of control vehicle struck them, killing one, and injuring the other.
Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics transported one victim to a local hospital. The other victim was identified as 22 year-old Michele Becerra who died at the scene as a result of her injuries.
The seventeen year-old driver of the vehicle that committed the unsafe lane change was arrested for Vehicular Manslaughter.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Central Traffic Detectives Williams and Padilla, at 213-972-1825. On weekends and during off-hours, please call the Detective Information Desk, 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This news release was prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.