Local News in Brief : Runaway Girl, 16, Dies as Stolen Car Crashes

A 16-year-old North Hollywood girl was killed Friday when the stolen car in which she was riding, driven by a 15-year-old boy, collided with three other vehicles, Los Angeles police said.

Eve Garcia, who police said had run away from her home two weeks ago, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph Medical Center an hour after the 9:25 a.m. accident. The driver of the car, who was not identified because of his age, was treated for facial bruises and held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall on suspicion of manslaughter and joy riding, police said.

Officer Frank Gallegos said the pair were traveling south on Riverton Avenue at Hatteras Street in North Hollywood at twice the 25-m.p.h. speed limit when their car struck another driven by Veronica Warner, 78, of North Hollywood. The car bounced and struck two other parked vehicles before coming to a stop, Gallegos said.

Warner was treated for facial cuts and released, police said. The 15-year-old driver, who police said had a history of joy riding and car theft, is on probation for joy riding, Gallegos said.