Street Racing Suspected in Fatal Crash

Los Angeles: One person was killed Wednesday when the car he was riding in lost control and crashed into two oncoming cars.

On October 18, 2007, at around 3:30 p.m., a 1994 Honda Prelude being driven by a 19-year-old man, was traveling northbound on Huntington Drive at a high speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle and slamed into the raised dividing section of the roadway, sending it into the southbound traffic lanes.

As the Prelude skidded across the roadway, it hit two oncoming vehicles. One of the cars, a 2004 Honda Acura, crashed into the passenger side of the Prelude. The impact killed the front seat passenger, Mauricio Mardones, 19, and severely injured a 20-year-old man sitting in the rear passenger seat of the Prelude. Both the driver and rear passenger were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The single occupant of the Acura was treated for minor injuries and released.

There was a lone driver in the third vehicle, a 2005 Toyota Corolla, but he was not injured.

Moments before the collision, in the area of Soto Street and Multnomah Street, about a mile from the crash site, witnesses reported that the driver of the Prelude had been seen racing with another vehicle, a white colored Honda or Integra, with a spoiler on the trunk. The driver was described as a male Hispanic, 16-20 years of age.

Later that evening, at about 11:30 p.m., a person matching the description went to Central Traffic Division to speak with Detective’s regarding his possible involvement in the street race. After the Detectives questioned the individual at length, he was released pending further investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives Felix Padilla or Josephine Mapson, Central Traffic Division, at 213-972-1825. During after hours and on weekends, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAW-FULL (877-529-3855).