Alcohol But Not Street Racing Suspected In Northridge Crash

NORTHRIDGE, CA — An early morning crash that injured two and made a mangled wreck of a car in Northridge Saturday does not appear to be related to street racing, detectives determined this week.

The driver, 22- year-old Alvaro Santosolmedo was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated causing a car accident. He remains jailed on $175,000 bail.

Officers initially suspected street racing may have been a factor following reports by witnesses who said the car was speeding before the driver lost control of the car.

“There was no evidence of street racing although he was probably driving too fast,” said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Steve Lee.

According to a receipt detectives found, the driver and his passenger had been on a date and allegedly consumed a large quantity of alcohol.

The crash happened early Saturday morning on the 8000 block of North Corbin Avenue. Santosolmedo’s car struck three parked cars. Both the driver and his passenger escaped with minor injuries.

“They are actually lucky they didn't get hurt worse than that,” added Lee.

Broadcast footage from the scene showed his car with its windows shattered, hood caved in and passenger door broken off, according to KTLA.

It’s been a tragic week on San Fernando Valley roadways, with speed considered a factor in multiple fatalities. Two young people were killed in Encino Wednesday night when a speeding Lamborghini crashed into a tree, triggering a small brushfire nearby.

Another person was killed Wednesday morning in a single-car wreck in Woodland Hills.