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Good Samaritans Electrocuted At Valley Village Car Crash ID'd
The two women who were electrocuted when they rushed into the scene of a car crash in Valley Village have been identified.
Irma Zamora, 40, of Burbank was shocked to death as she ran to try to help a driver who sheared off a fire hydrant and knocked over a light pole that charged the water, according to City News Service. Zamora was driving by the scene with her husband.
"I saw her step into the water, her arms stiffened and she fell flat on her back and it felt like it was going in slow motion," a witness, Christie Vergini, told KTLA.
Her husband was at the scene, screaming for someone to help his wife. The Los Angeles Times has a picture of him, as well as a makeshift memorial created by relatives of the victims at the scene.
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The other woman who was electrocuted was Stacey Lee Schreiber, 39, of Valley Village.
One witness said he tried to warn her to stay back from the wire, but he thinks she must not have heard her. Gerome Glassman told KTLA: "I kept telling her, pleading with her, that stay back, it's a live wire. She didn't hear me, and she dropped within seconds. There was nothing we could do."
Glassman was one of about a half-dozen people at the scene who tried to rescue the injured. He said he was thrown back when he was shocked. One North Hollywood police received a shock through his boot, and was discharged overnight. Another witness named Skyler Maxon told KTLA that his twin brother was in the hospital after getting shocked as well.
The driver's name has not been released, but he may be charged with reckless driving.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited the scene and commended the actions of the women and others, while offering words of caution: "This very unfortunate tragedy serves as a reminder to us that we must always always assess the situation, the safety of situations, before rushing into them."
We got a note from councilman Paul Krekorian's office noting that the county and city were offering counseling and mental health services to family members and the community:
The Los Angeles Fire Department, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Mental Health Emergency Response Team and the Mayor’s Crisis Response Team (CRT), is providing counseling services to community members and family members of victims seeking information and help as a result of the tragedy. Counselors and psychologists from the Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health and CRT will be on hand at Fire Station 60 to provide assistance, answer questions, make any necessary referrals and provide informational literature.
Fire Station 60 will open its doors on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m. It is located on 5320 Tujunga Ave, North Hollywood, 91601. If you have any questions, contact the Battalion 14 office at (818) 756-8614.
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2 Women Fatally Electrocuted Helping Out at Car Crash Scene
Motorist Whose Solo Crash Caused 2 Electrocution Deaths Could Be Charged With Reckless Driving
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