Street Light at Valley Village Tragedy Site Removed

A street light at the scene of a nearly two weeks ago that electrocuted two women was removed Saturday until a low-voltage lighting system is installed, according to LA Councilman Paul Krekorian's blog.

The street light and a fire hydrant at Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue were replaced a few days after they were knocked down Aug. 22 by a car driven by 19-year-old Arman Samsonian of Glendale.

Two women, 40-year-old Irma Zamora of Burbank and Valley Village resident Stacey Schreiber, 39, attempted to help Samsonian but were electrocuted in a pool of water that mixed with electrical wiring as a result of the crash.

Following the accident, some area residents expressed concerns over the high-voltage street light to Krekorian's office, said Communications Director Jeremy Oberstein.

"The councilman immediately called for increased safety measures to the region, such as installing a speed trailer and more enforcement of Magnolia Boulevard to cut down on speeding," Oberstein said. "Part of our efforts is to also allay any concerns included taking out the street light while the city continues its long-term project to replace high voltage wiring with low voltage electricity."

On Friday, Krekorian asked for the removal of the street light, which the city's Bureau of Street Lighting carried out the following day. The pole's base was covered with cement, Oberstein said.

The street light will eventually be re-installed once the bureau's ongoing city-wide implementation of low-voltage lighting reaches Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue, he said.

Wattage at street lights near the one that was removed at Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue were increased to ensure the neighborhood is properly illuminated, Oberstein said.

No charges have been filed against Samsonian, though the crash is being investigated as a

are still being accepted.