A section of Sunset Boulevard in Westwood was temporarily closed in both directions on Saturday after a two-car crash that killed one person and left three others injured, authorities said. .
The collision occurred in the 10200 block of Sunset, just east of Beverly Glen Boulevard (map), said Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A blue Maserati was traveling westbound when, for an unknown reason, the car crossed the double line in the middle of the road and struck a blue Honda that was headed eastbound, according to authorities.
The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene, the Fire Department said.
She was identified early Sunday by the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner as 54-year-old Sheri Myers Olmon of Santa Monica.
Two passengers in her car also suffered moderate injuries.
The driver of the Maserati, a man in his 50s, sustained a minor injury and was cooperating with police, officials said.
Initial reports from authorities had indicated that four vehicles were involved in the incident.
Alcohol was not believed to have been involved in the crash, police said.
Asked if speed was a factor, LAPD Sgt. Mark Guardado said: “Speed is obviously a factor on Sunset Boulevard. It always has been.”
“Despite large efforts from the Police Department, West Traffic Division in particular, as well as West Los Angeles Division, people here … don’t take into consideration the downhill slope,” he said. “In order to go uphill, they usually use more than enough speed to get up that hill, which contributes to our accidents that we have on Sunset Boulevard.”
Saturday’s incident took place near the site of a fatal collision on Feb. 23 involving the brother of the actress Salma Hayek.
Sami Hayek, 40, was driving a 2006 Ford GT eastbound in the same 10200 block of Sunset when he lost control, crossed into westbound lanes and collided with a Toyota Tacoma pickup, the Los Angeles Police Department said at the time.
A passenger in the Ford, 43-year-old Ian Cutler Sala, was pronounced dead at the scene after that crash.