Investigations Continue on Separate Fatal Collisions at Sunset/PCH

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating two separate fatal traffic incidents that happened recently at the Sunset Boulevard/Pacific Coast Highway intersection, located in Pacific Palisades. The first incident was a  in the early morning on Sept. 18. The second involved a at night on Sept. 24.

Detective Robert DeArmon of the LAPD's West Traffic Division is heading the investigation of the Ferrari incident.

The 1999 silver Ferrari 360 Modena was moving at an estimated speed of 90 mph to 100 mph from Malibu into Pacific Palisades when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, according to the LAPD. The vehicle struck a power pole on the ocean side of the highway and split in half. Both halves flew 30 feet down a cliff onto the beach. The driver and the passenger were ejected. 

The passenger, Basil Max Price III, 23, of Pomona, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Vladimir Skvortsov, 24, of Upland, was found critically injured and taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he was last reported to be in stable condition. He remains hospitalized as of last week, according to the LAPD.

San Bernardino County Court records show that Skvortsov had two previous DUI convictions and a third DUI case pending. His first conviction was in 2007, before he turned 21. The second was in 2009. He was again cited for DUI in January of this year, with formal charges filed in February. That case is pending. In addition, Skvortsov was cited in July for driving with a suspended license. The toxicology reports from the Ferrari incident are pending, according to the LAPD.

Skvortsov is the owner of VS Auto Detail in Upland, according to various media reports. Price's mother said, "The boys didn't have permission to be in the Ferrari, and had apparently taken the car out for a joyride. The car was not registered to Skvortsov," according to KTLA Los Angeles.  

Officer Ed Heredia of the LAPD said the name of the Ferrari's owner has not been released. He also said that Skvortsov had not been charged with anything "yet." 

LAPD Detective Faiza Arain said the name of the 30-year-old woman who was struck and killed on the night of Sept. 24 while attempting to cross PCH at the Sunset intersection has not been released. The nearby Gladstones Malibu restaurant was not a factor in the incident, Arain said.

The detective said the intersection is notorious for serious traffic incidents of all types, and that people often attempt to cross the highway without using the crosswalk.

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This article first appeared on Malibu Patch.