East Valley News: Man Arrested for Felony Vehicular Manslaughter After Fatal Crash in Sun Valley

 Sun Valley

The following message is from the LAPD Valley Traffic Division:

On Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at approximately 11:45 a.m. a traffic collision occurred in the community of Sun Valley, involving a gray, 2002 Volkswagen Passat and a gray, 2006 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. Eighteen-year-old resident of Pacoima, Jesus Felix was driving the Volkswagen southbound on Glenoaks Blvd, just north of Truesdale Street, when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with the Toyota that was being driven by fifty three-year-old resident of Burbank, Gagik Harutyunyun. Nineteen year-old resident of Pacoima, Dana Corleto, who was a passenger in the Volkswagen was transported to a local hospital by a rescue ambulance where she was pronounced dead, as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Felix, who received minor injuries as a result of the collision was arrested at the hospital for Felony Vehicular Manslaughter. Harutyunyun received minor injuries as a result of the collision.

The investigation is being conducted by Valley Traffic Detectives. Anyone who might have witnessed this collision is asked to call (877) LAW FULL, or Officer Daniel Menesez, Serial No. 35906, Valley Traffic Division Detectives (818) 644-8026

Arleta

A woman suspected of stealing an idling marked police car in an attempt to help a friend who had barricaded himself inside a home was arrested in Las Vegas, authorities said Tuesday.

Uniformed officers and detectives from the Mission Division were sent on Jan. 31 in response to an assault with a deadly weapon and robbery suspect who had barricaded himself in a home in the 10000 block of Vena Avenue in Pacoima.

Eventually a SWAT team was called in and Jose Luis Cervantes was taken into custody without incident. Cervantes is serving a 10-year sentence.

During the standoff, a patrol car parked on a perimeter was left unattended. During that brief moment, Maria Erika Covarubias, 25, a friend of Cervantes, stole the police car in an attempt to provide a diversion for Cervantes to escape, police said.

The car was located nearby, but its driver had fled.

Covarubias was found and arrested in Las Vegas on May 30. The District Attorney's Office has filed a felony count of driving without the owners' consent and Covarubias being held on $25,000 bail, authorities said.

Anyone with information about the case can call Mission Division detectives at (818) 838-9910.

Sylmar

Authorities this week identified a man who was fatally shot during an argument in Sylmar with another man, who was being sought, police said.

The shooting occurred about 11 p.m. Sunday in the 14300 block of Beaver Street, said Officer Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations office.

Armondo Casillas, 38, of Sylmar died at a hospital, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. There were no arrests, police said.

Granada Hills

A 47-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured today in a collision with a trash truck in Granada Hills.

The motorcyclist was southbound on Haskell Avenue when he collided with a trash truck at Haskell Avenue just before 11 a.m., said Detective Bill Bustos of the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division.

The truck driver pulled over to assist the motorcyclist, a Granada Hills man whose name was not immediately released.

Van Nuys

Police at the Van Nuys Station today suggested that the owners of big GMC sport utility vehicles use cable locks to secure removable third-row seats favored by burglars.

Police also urged people to have their seats engraved with the SUV's vehicle identification number, so that they can be claimed if stolen and recovered by police.

Perhaps the best solution is to remove the seats and leave them at home. Replacements can cost more than $3,000, but crooks resell them for less than half that, according to law enforcement authorities.

At Allen Cadillac in Laguna Niguel, third-row seats were stolen from 17 Escalades over Memorial Day weekend.

Editor's note: These are Police/Fire stories from areas the San Fernando Valley east of the 405 Freeway not covered by Patch. Check North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch, Studio City Patch and Sherman Oaks Patch for new in those areas.