The investigation into a Valley Village car accident in which two good Samaritans were electrocuted and six others hospitalized will probably take months, police detectives said Friday.”The assessment will take some time,” said Det. Bill Bustos of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic division, citing the need to have experts examine certain evidence.
During the investigation, LAPD detectives will confer with city or district attorneys, who will decide whether or not to press charges, police said.
“It’s an unfortunate traffic collision, but unless there’s any criminal negligence, the city attorney or district attorney won’t file,” Bustos said.
PHOTOS: Good Samaritans electrocuted after crash
The tragic series of events began at 8:25 p.m. Wednesday when a 19-year-old man smashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and light pole at Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue.
Improbably, power lines knocked loose by the crash came in contact with water gushing from the damaged fire hydrant, creating a deadly short-circuit. Two women who rushed to help the driver were electrocuted in the process, officials said.
Police identified Irma Zamora, 40, Burbank, as one victim. The other woman had not been identified, pending notification of relatives.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday hailed Zamora and others as heroes.
“They did what good Samaritans have done in this community many times,” he said.
He also urged the public to take precautions when coming upon an accident scene.
“We don’t want anyone hurt in the process,” he said.
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— Melissa Leu
