Five Killed in Solo Vehicle Accident

Five people were killed and another hospitalized in a fiery, single vehicle accident early Saturday morning in Burbank.

According to local police reports, the crash took place at around 4:13 a.m. on North San Fernando Boulevard near an off-ramp of the 5 Freeway, where a four-door Nissan sedan crashed into a concrete pillar, causing the vehicle to quickly burst into flames.

By the time accident responders arrived at the scene, the vehicle was completely engulfed. One of the vehicle’s six occupants was able to crawl from the burning wreckage, but five others were killed. “This was a tough one,” said Burbank Police Department Sergeant Darin Ryburn. “I’ve been here 28 years and five fatalities is pretty tough.”

The crash’s lone survivor, who has been identified as 18 year old Savannah Underwood, was rushed to USC Medical Center, where she is receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries, including a broken leg.

The five victims killed has also been identified as Sugey Cuevas, Malak Hariri, Sameer Nevarez, Stephen Stoll, and Sebastian Forero, all of whom were in their late teens or early twenties, and had graduated from two local high schools.

In a press conference held on Satuday, Sergeant Ryburn said that speed was a factor in the crash, and that investigators were waiting on the results of toxicology tests to determine if drugs or alcohol were also involved. According to friends and family, the group had left a party shortly before the crash occurred.

On Sunday, a candlelight vigil was held at the crash site to remember the young victims. Ahmed Hariri, a cousin of Malak Hariri, told news reporters that Malak was attending a local college, and that she was “a really enthusiastic person. She loved everything she did, every single day. She had a whole life ahead of her.” A memorial fund was also set up for the family of Sugey Cuevas to cover the cost of funeral expenses.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident such as this, you should seek the assistance of legal representation. Depending on the circumstances that surround your accident, you may be entitled to compensation to help cover the cost of your injuries, including hospital visits, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and more. With the help of an experienced Burbank car accident lawyer, you can be assured of receiving the full amount that you are rightfully owed.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we understand your rights, and can help get you back on your feet quickly. As with all of our clients, we will not charge you anything for our legal services until your case is won; if we cannot collect on your case, then you will not owe us anything.

If you’d like more information on the kinds of services we can offer, or for a free evaluation to discuss your available options, call us right away!