Alcohol May Have Been Factor In Deadly North Hills Crash

LOS ANGELES, CA — Four people were seriously injured and one man was killed in a two- vehicle crash in North Hills over the weekend. Authorities on Monday identified North Hills resident Francisco Hernandez Rivas, 48, as the man who died in the wreck.

The accident happened early Sunday morning when a when a vehicle going north on Haskell Avenue struck a vehicle traveling west on Parthenia Street, said Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. Hernandez Rivas died at the scene at 5:35 a.m. Sunday, coroner's Lt. Larry Dietz said.

The female driver of the a white Lexus walked away from the scene, Lopez said. Police believe alcohol might have played a role in the accident, and said some empty beer cans were found inside the Lexus, Lopez said.

Four other people in serious condition were rushed to an area hospital, Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.