Winnetka, Los Angeles, CA: Three people lost their lives and at least six were injured in a multi-vehicle traffic collision on Sunday night, July 3, in the Winnetka neighborhood of Los Angeles within the San Fernando Valley.

A call was received of a violent traffic collision around 9:00 p.m. on Vanowen Street just east of Corbin, according Captain Andrew Neiman, Commanding Officer of Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Division at the scene speaking to the news media.

Neiman said that preliminary investigation based on witness statements and evidence at the scene indicates that a dark-colored older model Ford Explorer was traveling eastbound at a very high rate of speed on Vanowen. As it approached Corbin, there’s a very large dip at the intersection and because of the high speed, it caused the Explorer to lose control and cross over into the westbound lanes of traffic colliding with a Toyota Tacoma truck with four occupants inside. The Ford Explorer also contained four occupants.

The Ford Explorer then rolled a couple of times, collided with another vehicle with two occupants – one pregnant – and then came to rest, Neiman said. Of the four occupants in the Ford Explorer, it appears three of them were likely not wearing a seat belt, and were ejected and died at the scene. The fourth passenger who was wearing a seat belt was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries currently.

Neiman said the four occupants in the Toyota Tacoma were also transported to the hospital and it appeared the seatbelts and airbags helped to minimize their injuries. None of those injuries are believed to be life-threatening at this time.

The pregnant woman sustained some injuries but she appeared to be in stable condition as was her husband who was also transported, Neiman reported.

The preliminary suspected speed of the Ford Explorer was 65 -75 mph. Neiman said the speed limit on the residential street where the collision occurred is 35 mph.

Neiman said the investigation is ongoing, but speed appears to be the primary collision factor.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene for treatment and transport of patients and reported that the deceased victims were three males – two were 30 years old, and one was 25. The location was the 19700 block of West Vanowen Street, according to LAFD.

Video: Keith Johnson, Photojournalist / KNN

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