Local News in Brief : Driver Hits Women Pushing Car; 1 Killed

An Encino woman, whom police said had been drinking, drove into two women pushing a disabled car, killing one and critically injuring the other, police said Friday.

Melanie J. May, 40, was arrested on suspicion of felony manslaughter Thursday at the scene of the accident in the 5000 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino, Officer Ed Padneau said.

“We don’t have the results of the blood-alcohol test yet, but there were definitely signs that May was intoxicated,” Padneau said. “If there was ever an accident that points out the horrors of drinking and driving, this one is it.”

The accident occurred about 10:15 p.m., when Soledad Sanchez, 40, of Sherman Oaks and Nelly Terry Reimer, 36, of Los Angeles were pushing Reimer’s car, which had run out of gas, south on Hayvenhurst Avenue in the far right lane while Reimer’s husband, Oscar, 32, steered, Padneau said.

Padneau said May was driving about 40 m.p.h. when she struck the three. The Reimers’ 7-month-old daughter, who was in the front passenger seat, was not injured, he said.

Sanchez died at the scene, Padneau said. Nelly Reimer was in serious condition Friday at Northridge Hospital Medical Center. Oscar Reimer was treated for bruises and released Thursday from the same hospital.

May posted $2,500 bail and was released Friday, Padneau said.