Murder Arrest in Fatal Accident in North Hills
One man is dead, four children hospitalized and a woman charged with murder after a fatal car crash in Los Angeles on April 17.
The accident, which occurred in North Hills, involved an SUV carrying a woman and two men that collided with a minivan carrying two adults and four children between the ages of four and 12.
Passenger pronounced dead
The passenger in the minivan was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital after the accident while all four of the children and the other adult in the van were hospitalized. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that the four children were all listed as having “severe” injuries. The female driver of the SUV and her two male passengers were also hospitalized with severe injuries after the crash.
According to police who investigated the accident, the Toyota Sienna minivan was traveling north on Haskell Avenue around 11:40 a.m. when the Toyota 4 Runner, heading west on Parthenia Street, ran a red light and slammed into the minivan. The minivan rolled over as a result of the impact, ejecting many of its passengers in the process.
The passenger of the minivan, a 37-year-old resident of North Hills and the father of one of the children in the van, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name has not yet been released and there have been no further reports on the condition of the children or the other adult passenger in the van at this time.
Driver of SUV arrested
Passengers of the SUV were also ejected during the crash and all three of those in the vehicle were taken to an area hospital with severe injuries. The driver of the SUV, 20-year-old Saidy Samayoa, remains hospitalized but has now been arrested for murder. Investigators have discovered Samayoa was traveling at high speeds when her vehicle hit the minivan after fleeing a previous accident and running a red light. Her bail has been set at $2 million, according to Los Angeles County jail records.
Good Samaritans at the scene of the vehicle rollover accident tried to help the victims until 60 city firefighters responded. At this time, the investigation is still ongoing and police are actively seeking more information about the crash. The Los Angeles Fire Department has also requested support from the mayor’s Crisis Response Team to help individuals affected by the accident.
Road deaths in California
The number of road deaths has been on the rise in California since 2010, according to a report at the Sacramento Bee. Officials of the state are citing the end of the recession as one reason for the uptick. With more people heading to jobs in the state, there are more cars on the road and a higher incidence of traffic accidents. Other factors that could play into the higher numbers could include an increasing number of motorists using their cell phones while driving and an increase in accidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycle riders.
If you are the victim of a traffic accident in Los Angeles, it is essential to have qualified legal support on your side to ensure your rights are protected. At Ellis Law, we understand the implications of being in accident, and have a skilled Lospersonal injury lawyer ready to assist you.
For a free evaluation of your case with veteran Los Angeles car accident lawyers, contact Ellis Law at 310-641-3335.