3 Pedestrians Hurt as Car Jumps Curb

WEST HILLS — Three pedestrians--a 5-year-old boy, his 10-year-old sister and their 29-year-old mother--were injured Sunday when a car jumped a curb and hit them as they were standing at the corner gas station at Vanowen Street and Fallbrook Avenue, authorities said.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Bob Collis said the boy, who was thrown 30 feet, was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center, where he was treated for multiple injuries. A medical center spokeswoman said late Sunday night that he was listed in fair condition and was being kept at the hospital for observation and more tests.

The boy’s mother and sister, who were taken to Columbia West Hills Medical Center, were treated for injuries and released Sunday night, spokeswoman Laurie Kapper said.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division had little information about the incident Sunday night. Officers Garry Weller and Larry Read said the matter was still under investigation.

Meanwhile, a hospital official quoted the mother as saying that she and her children were standing at the gas station at Vanowen and Fallbrook when a car, trying to avoid another vehicle that was running a red light, jumped the curb and raced toward them. The car hit the mother and the son. The daughter, who tried to run away from the oncoming car, tripped and fell.

Collis said he could not confirm the information. However, he said a total of five people were injured. He said two, including the driver of one car, were taken to Kaiser Permanente hospital in Woodland Hills. A hospital spokeswoman said they were treated and released.

A hospital official identified the pedestrian victims as Juana Lopez Franco, 29, Corina Franco Lopez, 10, and Eduardo Franco Lopez, 5.