Burbank City Council to honor five youths killed in weekend crash

The Burbank City Council will observe a moment of silence during its meeting Tuesday night in honor of five teens and young adults killed in a fiery car crash over the weekend.

Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy also plans to issue a statement on behalf of the city.

The single-car crash occurred at about 4:10 a.m. Saturday near the Scott Road offramp of the 5 Freeway.

Burbank police said it appeared that the Nissan involved in the crash was traveling south on San Fernando Boulevard at a high rate of speed, lost control and slammed into a concrete abutment.

Officers who arrived at the scene found the sedan ablaze, authorities said. An 18-year-old female passenger who escaped from the burning vehicle was transported to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where she was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, they said.

The victims’ identities have not been confirmed by authorities, although they have been named by friends.

A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night and a makeshift memorial at the scene of the crash has been growing with dozens of candles and pictures of the victims.

“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the young people who lost their lives so tragically Saturday morning. Our thoughts are also with the young woman who survived and her family and friends, as this is an especially painful time for them,” Gabel-Luddy said in the statement. “A tragedy of this magnitude affects the entire community, particularly one as close knit as Burbank.”

On Saturday night, after dousing the fire, emergency personnel discovered five charred bodies inside the vehicle, police said.

At the vigil Sunday night, friends and family told KTLA-TV that the victims were all in their teens and early 20s and had graduated from Burbank high schools. Notes and candles lined the crash site as dozens of people gathered to offer condolences and share their grief.

“The Lord decided he needed your wings early in life ... but we will miss you here,” one note read.

At a news conference, Burbank Police Sgt. Darin Ryburn said the number of fatalities was “a tough one.”

“I’ve been here 28 years and the five fatalities is pretty rough,” he said.

Due to the young age of the victims, Gabel-Ludy also said it was important that “we pay close attention to their peers as they navigate the grieving process.”

“The entire Burbank community feels the grief over this accident and we stand ready to assist. Burbank is a resilient community whose strength will help all of us to weather this trying time.”

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the accident was asked to call Det. Sam Anderson at (818) 238-3100.

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