Driver Killed in 3-Car Collision

A 26-year-old driver died early Saturday after allegedly speeding through a red light and causing a three-vehicle collision, police said.

The driver, George Bekerian of Van Nuys, was heading north on Coldwater Canyon Avenue when he ran the light at the corner of Vanowen Street about 12:15 a.m., according to Officer Connie Silber of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.

Bekerian’s car, a GMC Suburban, collided with a Honda Accord traveling east on Vanowen Street. The Suburban veered off the street and hit a power pole, and the Accord struck a third car that left the scene, Silber said.

Bekerian suffered wounds to the chest and head and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

His passenger, Mike Kershishian, 26, of Los Angeles, suffered chest abrasions and cuts to the head. He was treated at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and released. The driver of the Honda suffered minor injuries, police said.

Also on Saturday, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner identified the victim of another fatal crash triggered by a driver who failed to stop at an intersection. Patrick Lyman, 49, of Quartz Hill, died Friday night after his car was hit by a truck that ran a stop sign at 30 Street West and Avenue G in Lancaster.