One person was killed and two others were injured after a 14-year-old driver lost control of a speeding car and crashed into a utility pole in Encino early Tuesday, Los Angeles police said.
The car, a silver sedan, burst into flames after hitting the pole. Police were able to pull the underage driver and a passenger from the wreckage, but a second passenger was trapped in the back seat.
The trapped passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said.
According to KTTV-TV News, the car had been reported stolen by a relative of one of the vehicle's occupants.
“This is an absolute tragedy,” LAPD Capt. Jeff Hollis told the station. “There are some families that will suffer as a result of this.”
A Los Angeles police spokesperson could not confirm whether the car was reported stolen.
Police first spotted the vehicle heading south on Balboa Boulevard and approaching Highway 101 around 12:15 a.m. LAPD officers with the West Valley Patrol Division noticed the car's lights were off and attempted to stop it, but the driver sped off, police said. .
Officers decided not to pursue the car, according to authorities, but the driver lost control of the car moments later.
The 14-year-old was attempting to turn left onto Ventura Boulevard when he lost control and crashed into the pole.
The name of the deceased passenger has not been released.
The driver and injured passenger were taken to a nearby hospital. The accident is still under investigation.
