BRIEFLY HOLIDAY TRAFFIC KILLS 1 IN FIRST 12 HOURS.

One person died in a traffic crash and 56 others were arrested for driving under the influence on Los Angeles County highways on the first day of the Thanksgiving holiday, a CHP report said.

Early statistics from the California Highway Patrol show that in Los Angeles County, the death toll is up. No deaths were reported during the same period last year.

Statewide, the number of people who died in traffic incidents rose from two in 1999 to six this year.

The CHP report includes statewide statistics gathered within 12-hour increments that began at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Last year's information was gathered from identical 12-hour reporting periods.

Motorists arrested in Los Angeles County for driving under the influence decreased from 58 in 1999 to 56 this year - not reflective of a statewide trend in which DUI arrests increased from 253 in 1999 to 271 this year, the CHP reported.

- City News Service

7 people injured in bus-van crash

INGLEWOOD - A transit bus and minivan collided Thursday, injuring seven people, police said.

``Seven people complained of some type of pain, and a few were taken to area hospitals to get looked at,'' Officer Ray Wunno said.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus and the other vehicle collided about 10:45 a.m at Century and Crenshaw boulevards.

The minivan rammed into the rear of the bus, but the cause was not clear.

``At this point, we are still investigating,'' Wunno said.

- Associated Press

Repairman at ATM relieved of cash

RESEDA - Police were looking for a gunman Thursday who reportedly forced a repairman to hand over as much as $100,000 in cash from a Bank of America ATM machine, authorities said.

The incident was reported to officers just before 5 p.m. at the Bank of America branch in the 17600 block of Saticoy Street, said Lt. Al Dravidius of the LAPD's Van Nuys Division.

A repairman was working on the automatic teller machine when a gunman forced him to remove the cash, KABC (Channel 7) reported.

``I really don't have too much information on the incident since I haven't heard anything from the officers,'' Dravidius said. ``I'm not sure exactly how much was taken, but word has it it was $100,000, but it's not exactly known if that's a fact or not.''

The repairman was not injured in the robbery.

- City News Service

Autopsy results expected Monday

An autopsy was performed Thursday on remains authorities believe is the body of Sandra Rosas, the wife of Los Lobos band leader Cesar Rosas, a coroner's office spokeswoman said.

The results of the autopsy, including an official identification of the body, isn't expected to be released until Monday, said Lt. David Smith of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The coroner's office will use dental records to confirm the findings, possibly over the weekend, KNBC (Channel 4) reported earlier.

The autopsy came after forensics experts completed earlier in the week the work of recovering human bones from a shallow grave.

Gabriel Gomez, convicted last week of murdering his half-sister 13 months ago, pointed detectives to the where the body was left in a shallow grave in Santa Clarita.

The victim disappeared from her Rowland Heights home on Oct. 23, 1999. Her maroon van was found abandoned a few days later in nearby La Puente.

- Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Police believe man tossed out drugs

HI VISTA - A 44-year-old Pacoima man was arrested for possession of drugs and evading arrest after a chase early Thursday along dirt roads in the sparsely populated Hi Vista area east of Lancaster.

Sheriff's deputies tried to stop the man for failing to stop for a stop sign about 4 a.m., but he wouldn't pull over. Deputies believe he kept driving while trying to toss out his drugs.

- Daily News