A young man was killed Tuesday when his Honda Accord sheared a fire hydrant and then slammed into a car dealership in Canoga Park, police said.
Steven Jose Rodriguez, 21, of Chatsworth died at the scene of the crash, which was reported about 2:45 a.m. in the area of Sherman Way and De Soto Avenue.
The Honda was eastbound “at a very high rate of speed” when Rodriguez lost control of the sedan, according to Los Angeles police, who said alcohol may also have been a factor.
The force of the crash left the Accord split in half, according to the watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Bureau.
The sheared hydrant flew into a second business, police said, adding that both businesses were closed and unoccupied at the time.
Witnesses said they saw the car repeatedly speeding up and down the street, with no other vehicles involved.
—City News Service