BRIEFLY.

Motorist injured in firetruck crash

SHERMAN OAKS -- A 22-year-old motorist was injured Saturday when her car collided with a firetruck responding to an emergency call, officials said.

The woman's Ford Escort was eastbound on Riverside Drive about 9:30 a.m. when it collided with the firetruck, which was turning left from northbound Fulton Avenue, police said. The firetruck's emergency lights and siren were operating at the time.

No firefighters were hurt, but the woman was taken to Sherman Oaks Hospital with moderate injuries, officials said.

-- City News Service

21-year-old killed in gang shooting

SYLMAR -- A 21-year-old Van Nuys man was killed early Saturday in a gang-related car-to-car shooting, officials said.

Fernando Nuno was riding in a car in the 12700 block of Encinitas Avenue shortly after midnight when he was fatally shot by someone in another car that pulled up alongside, officials said.

Nuno was taken by relatives to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at [phone].

-- City News Service

70 firefighters battle brush fire

SANTA CLARITA -- Aided by firefighting aircraft, about 70 firefighters battled a brush fire that broke out Saturday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest, officials said.

The fire was reported about 4p.m. on hilly terrain near Placerita Canyon and Sand Canyon roads, officials said.

Homeowners in the area were under a voluntary evacuation, although structures were not in imminent danger, officials said.

-- Daily News

Two people hurt in alley shooting

NORTH HOLLYWOOD -- Two young men were wounded Saturday in an alley in what may have been a gang-related shooting, police said.

Witnesses told police an argument started about midnight among a group of people standing in the alley behind the 7800 block of Troost.

Two people were hit when at least one gunman opened fire, officials said. The suspects were described as Latino men in their 20s wearing all black clothing and baseball caps.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at [phone].

-- City News Service

Sherman Oaks eatery held up

SHERMAN OAKS -- A gunman and an accomplice robbed the Bronco Restaurant, escaping with an undisclosed amount of money, police said Saturday.

The restaurant at Moorpark Street and Woodman Avenue was held up about 9 p.m. Friday, officials said. Police were unable to provide a description of the suspects or say whether the holdup was linked to scores of others at San Fernando Valley eateries over the last two years.

-- City News Service

Sting finds taxis often overcharge

Taxi drivers overcharged customers about half the time, possibly by rigging meters or taking them on longer rides than necessary, a sting operation concluded.

In the past two months, inspectors posing as customers took 30 taxi trips to downtown, West Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport. They were overcharged on 15 rides, although some of the overcharges may have been unintentional, officials said.

In nine cases, overcharges were more than 10 percent and probably intentional, while four cases involved suspected rigging of meters, said Tom Drischler, the city taxi administrator. There are about 2,300 city-regulated cabs.

-- Associated Press