Sherman Oaks Car Accident Claims the Lives of Three

A Sherman Oaks car accident involving four vehicles claims the lives of three people. The incident took place early Sunday morning, May 22, 2010, on the 101 Freeway.

According to the California Highway Patrol, three vehicles collided just before dawn on the 101 Freeway. The accident left the three center lanes blocked. Immediately following the accident, three male drivers and a female passenger got out of their vehicles to exchange information concerning the wreck. That is when three of them were stuck by a fourth car.

Two of the male drivers and the female passenger lost their lives in the secondary collision. They have been identified as Santiago Vasquez, 24, of Hawthorne, Neil Hillan, 47, of North Hollywood and Norma Najera-Villede, 41, of Inglewood. The third driver, Antulio Aju, 30, of Sun City, was able to escape injury by running to the side of the road.

The driver of the fourth vehicle has been identified as Haik Madoyan, 25, of Glendale. It was unclear as to whether Madoyan was injured in the auto accident. However, police did detain him for unspecified reasons.

The fatal Sherman Oaks auto accident is still under investigation by local authorities.

This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and condolences go out to all of those who have been affected by it.