Local News in Brief : Drunk Driving Blamed in Fatal One-Car Crash

Drunk driving is suspected in the fatal crash of a car that suddenly accelerated and veered into the center divider of the Golden State Freeway in Sylmar early Thursday, the California Highway Patrol said.

The driver, a 28-year-old Inglewood man, was pronounced dead at the scene about 5 a.m., Officer Harry Ingold said. He was not identified pending notification of relatives.

Three passengers, who were slightly injured, told officers the driver had been drinking, Ingold said.

The car was north of Balboa Boulevard and moving slowly south, then suddenly increased speed to 70 m.p.h. and struck the center divider, he said. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partly ejected through the driver’s-side window and suffered head injuries, Ingold said.