Local News in Brief : Driver, 16, Arrested in Youth’s Death in Crash

A 16-year-old Granada Hills youth was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and drunk driving after he lost control of his car and it collided with a second vehicle, killing one of his four teen-age passengers, authorities said Sunday.

Another passenger, Jeff Flint, 15, of Newhall, was critically injured in the accident, which took place about 11:15 p.m. Friday on Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country, California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Loughrey said. Flint remained in critical condition Sunday at Henry Mayo Newhall MemorialHospital in Valencia, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Both victims were thrown from the vehicle when it crossed the center line and sideswiped a car driven by James Olson, 37, of Canyon Country. Olson was uninjured. A 16-year-old Newhall boy and a 17-year-old Northridge boy, were treated for minor injuries, Loughrey said.

The identity of the dead youth, a 17-year-old from Northridge, was not determined until Sunday, and his name was withheld until relatives could be notified, Loughrey said.

The driver told officers he had met the victim shortly before the accident and offered him a ride to a party, authorities said. He was later released to the custody of his parents, Loughrey said.