Politics & Government

21-Year-Old Arrested In Fatal Hermosa Beach Crash

A young woman faces a vehicular manslaughter charge in the PCH crash that killed a 24-year-old woman Wednesday morning.

HERMOSA BEACH, CA — A 21-year-old woman was facing a possible felony charge Thursday for killing another motorist in two-vehicle crash in Hermosa Beach, authorities said.

Melanie Azanero of Hawthorne was arrested and booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter after the about 2 a.m.-collision Wednesday at Pacific Coast Highway and Artesia Boulevard, said Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Robert Higgins.

Azanero was treated for "minor-to-moderate" injuries she suffered in the crash, and released on $130,000 bond later that day, Higgins said.

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Los Angeles resident Brianna Pugh, 24, died at the scene, according to the coroner's office and Hermosa Beach police.

Azanero was driving a 2015 Honda Civic that collided with a 2019 Nissan Kicks SUV driven by Pugh, police said.

Find out what's happening in Hermosa Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"The investigation of the collision is ongoing and officials believe driving under the influence is a factor in the collision," Higgins said in a statement.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call police at 310- 318-0360.

City News Service