Street racing blamed for Van Nuy crash that killed 1 innocent man and seriously injured friend

VAN NUYS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — It would be a short drive down Sherman Way by two old friends who were leaving church to get something to eat.

Instead, the two 22-year-olds, known for their dedication to their church and community, became victims of a violent accident involving alleged street racers.

One friend was killed and the other was hospitalized with multiple broken bones. In hopes of aiding his recovery, his family has still not told the surviving victim that his friend died from his injuries.

The accident happened on Friday evening. Police say two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Rolls Royce, were apparently racing down the street on Sherman Way when they crashed into the Honda that was pulling into the restaurant’s parking lot.

Rangel Vega and Alejandro Luquin, who were in the Honda, were hospitalized in critical condition, and Vega died at the hospital a day later.

The Mercedes driver has been arrested for reckless driving and police are still looking for the Rolls driver who fled on foot.

“The community is crying over this loss,” said John Miranda, pastor at La Iglesia en el Camino.

Vega and Luquin, friends since high school, had just left church where they had been leading a youth service for high school students.

Luquin has undergone multiple surgeries and is still in the hospital with multiple broken bones.

“He broke both his legs, his arm and his jaw,” said his sister, Mayra Luquin. “He is still in a lot of pain. His recovery will be long and difficult for him.”

More heartbreak is yet to come because the truth about his friend hasn’t been shared.

“It’s difficult,” Mayra said. ‘He keeps asking about him. How is he, how is he? It’s hard. We can’t tell him he has died yet.’

A GoFundMe was founded to help the victims and their families.