Two Killed In Granada Hills Crash Identified

GRANADA HILLS, CA — Two people who died when their car slammed into the back of a big rig parked on the right shoulder of the Golden State (5) Freeway in the Granada Hills area were identified Monday.

They were identified by the Los Angeles County coroner's office as Juan Carlos Menjivar, 37, of Winnetka, and Ana Elena Moreno Santos, 33, of Los Angeles.

The crash was reported at 12:57 a.m. Sunday on the southbound 5 Freeway just south of the San Diego (405) Freeway interchange, California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Kimball said.

According to the CHP, Menjivar was driving a 2010 Lexus that hit the rear of a 2007 Dart International big rig, which was parked on the right freeway shoulder.

The Lexus had been traveling "at a high rate of speed," according to a CHP statement.

"The driver of the Lexus failed to maintain the curve in the roadway prior to traveling out of control and crashing into the rear of the Dart International ...," according to the CHP. "Alcohol may be a factor in this collision."

The two people in the car were decapitated in the crash, Kimball said.

Witnesses told the CHP the silver sedan caught fire. The 35-year-old Georgia man who was driving the big rig was not injured.

The CHP asked anyone with information to call the Newhall Area office at 661-600-1600.

City News Service