BRIEFS.

Tipsters ID wallet theft suspects

SANTA CLARITA -- Tipsters have identified two Lancaster women as suspects wanted for stealing wallets from elderly shoppers at two Santa Clarita grocery stores, but the pair is still at large, sheriff's officials said Wednesday.

Numerous callers who saw surveillance camera photographs released by sheriff's investigators identified the two as Mishelle ``Shay'' Burrell, 30, and Aesha Gibson, 25.

Deputies contacted the two by telephone, but now they cannot locate the women, according to a sheriff's news release.

The two are excused of stealing from two women shopping at the Granary Square Ralphs in Valencia and Food 4 Less in Canyon Country.

-- Daily News

Agua Dulce loses electricity briefly

AGUA DULCE -- About 7,200 Southern California Edison customers were without electricity for about an hour Wednesday evening after an equipment failure in an underground electrical vault east of Sierra Highway and south of Escondido Canyon Road.

A few had no power until 7:43a.m. Thursday, said Edison spokesman Paul Klein.

-- Daily News

Driver slams car into utility pole

VAL VERDE -- An 18-year-old driver was in critical condition Wednesday morning after his car slammed into a utility pole near Val Verde, California Highway Patrol Officer John Lutz said.

Blaze F. Floyd lost control of his car about 10:15a.m., Lutz said. It hit a dirt embankment and then the pole, which fell across the roof of his car, hitting him in the head.

-- Daily News

Head-on collision puts 2 in hospital

AGUA DULCE -- A man and a woman involved Wednesday night in a head-on collision near Agua Dulce remained hospitalized Thursday in critical condition, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

Both suffered major injuries when Oliver M. Abu, 30, of Lancaster, drove his vehicle across the center divider and slammed into a car driven by Sheila M. Kozlowski, 41, of Saugus, CHP Officer John Lutz said.

The crash was at 5:50p.m. on Sierra Highway north of Vasquez Canyon Road.

-- Daily News

Man to face trial in deadly crash

SAN FERNANDO -- A Bakersfield man was ordered Thursday to stand trial on two counts of felony manslaughter and one count of drunk driving after authorities said he caused a collision in Newhall that killed two young women in his car.

Confessor Montalvo, 19, has remained in custody in lieu of $275,000 bail since the Oct.26 crash on Sierra Highway just south of San Fernando Road, according to sheriff's records.

Two passengers, 23 and 17, died, while a third was severely injured when the stolen car Montalvo was driving crossed the center divider and crashed, deputies said.

-- Daily News