A 16-year-old boy was killed and his passenger seriously injured when their car slammed into a power pole and burst into flames in Sacramento’s Arden-Arcade neighborhood. The teen was driving eastbound on El Camino Avenue near Verna Way on the afternoon of August 25 when he lost control of the vehicle. The impact sheared the pole and set the car on fire, knocking out power to hundreds of nearby homes and businesses. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while his passenger, an adult woman, was pulled from the burning wreckage and rushed to a hospital.
According to CBS Sacramento, the California Highway Patrol’s North Sacramento office said the teen was traveling at a high rate of speed when another vehicle reportedly pulled out in front of him, causing him to lose control. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews extinguished the flames and worked with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to de-energize downed lines before continuing rescue efforts, the outlet reported. More than 880 customers were left without power as crews worked the scene. CHP has not released the teen’s name and the investigation remains active.
