BRIEFLY.

World War II vet killed in hit-run

GRANADA HILLS - An 85-year-old World War II veteran taking a walk Sunday was killed by a hit-and-run driver near his home in Granada Hills, and police sought the driver of a red car in connection with his death.

Ralph Blackwood, 85, was taking a walk about 1:30 a.m. in the 11000 block of White Oak Avenue near Ludlow Street when he was struck by a red car traveling north on White Oak Avenue, said Los Angeles police Officer Kristi Sandoval.

Blackwood was pronounced dead at the scene, she said. His family said he took overnight walks in the street because the sidewalk was uneven and he had tripped before.

Police are looking for a red vehicle with right front damage.

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run was urged to call Valley Traffic Detectives at [phone].

- City News Service

Teen killed, five hurt in truck crash

GRANADA HILLS - One man died and five others were injured when the pickup they were riding in skidded across lanes of traffic, struck a number of objects and overturned, according to Los Angeles police.

Passenger Omar Rios, 18, died at the scene of the crash on Sesnon Boulevard west of Balboa Boulevard.

Leonardo Gonzales, 18, of San Fernando was driving the GMC Sonoma pickup when he lost control and struck a block wall, a tree and an oncoming car before the truck flipped over, police said.

The five injuries ranged from severe to critical.

- Daily News

Crashers injure 3 at party in Valley

PACOIMA - Gunfire erupted when gang members tried to crash a party in Pacoima, leaving three people wounded, police said Sunday.

The shooting in the 14000 block of La Rue Street occurred about 11 p.m. Saturday, said Los Angeles police Lt. Kristine Kenney of the Mission Station.

The victims, two men and a male of unknown age, were taken to hospitals and were reported to have stable vital signs early Sunday, she said.

One victim suffered a graze wound to his head, she said. Another was shot in the foot and the third was wounded in an arm and hip, Kenney said.

The suspects were described as gang members who tried to crash the party but were turned away, she said.

About 150 people were at the party when three to five suspects opened fire, she said. The suspects got away in a vehicle, but it was unclear what kind, Kenney said.

- City News Service

Infant girl killed in Palmdale wreck

PALMDALE - A Sylmar infant died when a driver suspected of being drunk crashed a pickup truck into the rear of her parents' compact car, which had stopped on Pearblossom Highway to let an emergency vehicle go by, California Highway Patrol officials said Sunday.

The 7-month-old girl was strapped into a child seat but it didn't save her, officials said. Her name was not immediately disclosed.

Her father, 22-year-old Manuel Coja, who was driving the Honda Accord, and her 21-year-old mother were not hurt, officials said.

Eric Mason Boden, 27, of Palmdale, who was driving the Ford Ranger truck that hit the Accord, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, records show.

The crash occurred about 7:50 p.m. on Pearblossom Highway east of Sierra Highway, officials said. Coja had been driving east on Pearblossom and stopped when he saw a emergency vehicle with its lights and siren on approaching from the other direction, a CHP report said. Boden's truck hit the stopped car in the rear.

- City News Service

LAPD officers set for trip to London

Four members of the Los Angeles Police Department were scheduled to fly to London Sunday to meet with British authorities investigating the July 7 bombings of three subway trains and a public bus, police said.

The LAPD contingent includes Deputy Chief Michael Berkow of the department's Professional Standards Bureau, said Los Angeles police Officer Sandra Escalante.

Also going to London are a member of the bomb squad, a terrorism intelligence analyst and a detective with the Major Crimes Division, who also is part of a joint anti-terrorism task force.

The LAPD personnel will meet with London Metropolitan Police officials to observe how British authorities handled evidence and put together their investigations into the bombings, said Escalante. On Wednesday, a team of experts from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department left for London to evaluate the circumstances of the subway and bus attacks.

- City News Service

Senior found dead in backyard pool

WOODLAND HILLS - A 75-year-old man was found dead in a backyard pool in Woodland Hills on Sunday, a fire official said.

The man was found facedown in the deep end of a backyard pool in the 6500 block of Shoup Avenue about 4 p.m., said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Family members were able to pull him partially from the pool, and he was on the pool stairs when firefighters arrived, Humphrey said.

After administering CPR and other lifesaving measures, fire paramedics took him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, he said.

It was unclear whether the man lived at the home, he said.

- City News Service