Two people were killed and another was hospitalized Tuesday night following a crash on a stretch of roadway known for speeding and violent collisions in Los Angeles’ Porter Ranch neighborhood.
The crash was reported around 11:15 p.m. when a gray BMW traveling northbound on Tampa Avenue hit a white Toyota making a left turn onto Atlanta Avenue just south of Chatsworth Street.
Neighbors heard the impact and rushed over to help the victims but two people in the Toyota were trapped inside their vehicle.
Emergency crews used the jaws of life to extract the unidentified men, both in their 50s, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the BMW, described as a 20-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
The incident occurred in an area known for violent crashes, often involving street racing or speeding but officials believe Tuesday’s crash was likely caused by a misjudgment.
“There’s no stop signs, there’s no lights, there’s no nothing right here,” Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Jodie Lee said. “So, when someone makes a lefthand turn they’re thinking it’s going to be safe … they misjudged it and unfortunately this is what happens.”
Tampa Avenue was closed in the area during the investigation but was reopened by 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.
