Pair arrested after allegedly racing down Glendale street
Two people were arrested in Glendale on Monday after police allegedly caught them engaging in a street race down Glenoaks Boulevard.
It was just after 10 p.m. when an officer with the Glendale Police Department saw two vehicles speeding eastbound on Glenoaks near Pacific Avenue.
Sgt. Christian Hauptmann, a department spokesman, said the officer was able to catch up with the vehicles and pull over the two drivers. The vehicles were described as a BMW and Infiniti, both newer models.
It’s estimated the cars were reaching speeds exceeding 65 mph, according to Hauptmann. The posted speed limit on the street is 40 mph.
“The officer just happened to be in the right place at the right time and saw them race each other,” Hauptmann said.
The drivers were identified as 31-year-old Glendale-resident Vage Kirakosyan and 24-year-old Sara Shamlyan, a resident of Panorama City. Both were arrested on suspicion of engaging in an illegal speed contest.
With millions of residents in Los Angeles County staying at home because of the coronavirus outbreak, streets have become drastically less congested, tempting drivers to speed, according to a report in the L.A. Times.
It’s estimated that drivers in the county are going 13% faster than they normally would, according to Hauptmann.
“It kind of lends itself to the open road. There’s less traffic, so more people are inclined to go a little faster,” he said.
However, Hauptmann said the lack of traffic doesn’t give drivers free reign to speed down the road.
He said officers will be ever present in Glendale to enforce traffic laws and prevent any motorist from speeding and “getting out of control.”
