Underage Driver Injured in a Traffic Accident NR11275cj

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is asking for the public’s help in providing information about a traffic collision in Sunland where two teens were injured.

On Tuesday, June 15, 2011, at about 9:10 a.m., LAPD Valley Traffic Division officers responded to a traffic accident in the 10600 block of Oro Vista Avenue.  When they arrived, they saw a car at the bottom of a nearby basin.  They discovered two females near the car suffering from trauma related injuries.  LAFD rescue personnel responded and transported the driver to a local hospital.  She is in critical condition.  The passenger was treated for minor injuries at the scene and was not transported.

The investigation revealed that a 14-year-old female entered the driver’s side of a parked car in the 10600 block of Oro Vista Avenue.  She was accompanied by an 18-year-old female who was the passenger.  The driver started the car and began driving in reverse.  The car continued eastbound into a church parking lot through a chainlink fence and fell into a nearby basin where it came to a stop. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Valley Traffic Division Detective Krajchar at 818-644-8034.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.