Authorities have identified two of the three men who died when a car allegedly traveling more than 100 mph crashed in Pasadena and struck a building, leaving three other people hospitalized, and an investigation was continuing Monday.
The crash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday in the area of Foothill Boulevard and Vista Avenue, Pasadena city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian told City News Service.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has identified two of the three men who died as Mohed Samuel, 22, and Stefan Pfeiffer, 20, both of Pasadena. The name of the third man who died, who was in his 20s, was withheld, pending notification of his next of kin. He was also Pasadena resident, police said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver was among those who died. Authorities did not say which person was driving.
Of the three survivors, two are Pasadena residents, and one is a Monrovia resident, according to police, who reported that all three remain hospitalized in stable condition and were expected to survive.
According to Derderian, “663 residents and businesses were without power due to the initial crash and all power was restored in increments with all up and running around 4 p.m. on Saturday.”
“The structure that was hit was yellow tagged and sustained significant damage,” Derderian said in a statement Monday morning.
“Thankfully it was vacant and nobody was in it at the time,” Derderian said. “Very tragic accident any day but especially on Mother’s Day weekend, graduation and prom season with so many reasons to celebrate so many families will be mourning. Especially hard on our first responders to see the devastation and lives lost.”
According to police Lt. Anthony Russo, the crash remains under investigation.
“There is evidence that alcohol may have been involved but we do not know if the driver was under the influence or impaired at this time,” Russo said in a statement on Monday. “The medical examiner will conduct a toxicology screening on the driver.”
Russo said the driver allegedly “ran the red light at Sierra Madre Blvd.”
“Our preliminary estimate is the vehicle was traveling over 100 mph at that time,” Russo said. “There were four people in the backseat. Only one was wearing a seatbelt. The other three rear passengers were ejected and 1 of those is among the deceased.”
The victims ranged in age from 17-22, according to published reports.
Russo told the Pasadena Star-News the survivors were two females and a male.
The six people were in a Tesla Model 3 sedan that was traveling westbound on Foothill Boulevard, Russo said. Investigators reportedly planned to look into whether the Tesla’s autopilot feature was engaged at the time of the crash.
NBC4 reported that some of the victims were students at Maranatha High School, according to school officials, and counselors were expected at the school Monday to assist grieving students.
Family members said Pfeiffer was a student at Pasadena Community College, NBC4 reported. According to KTLA, Pfeiffer’s mother said her son was out with acquaintances and they were five blocks away from their home when the crash occurred.