Paul M. Anderson
GLENDALE -- A 25-year-old Fullerton man will spend a year in prison
for his part in a car crash that killed a Glendale girl last year.
Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Carol Rehm sentenced Brian Keith
Thomas to the maximum penalty for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter,
said Deputy L.A. City Atty. Kurt Knecht who prosecuted the case. Jurors
took three hours to find Thomas guilty Nov. 16 after a 3 1/2-week trial,
according to a news release from Los Angeles City Atty. Jim Hahn.
On Oct. 3, 1998, Thomas picked up 16-year-old Sandra Palanco and
another Glendale girl, also 16, in Pasadena who needed a ride home. While
driving to Glendale in his 1992 Honda Civic, Thomas got into a race with
someone driving a black 300ZX Nissan going westbound on the Ventura (134)
Freeway, authorities said.
Thomas lost control of the car near Figueroa Street in Eagle Rock and
crashed into a guard rail, sending the car airborne into a hillside,
authorities said. Palanco, who was in the backseat with the other girl,
was hurled out of the car by the impact, police said.
The other girl suffered minor injuries. Charles James Greer, 27, of
Walnut, who was in the front seat, also received minor injuries.
Thomas was uninjured.
Motorcyclist William Arnold Milano of Tarzana ruptured a spleen as he
tried to avoid the car crash, Hahn's office said.
The driver of the other car in the race kept going and wasnever
identified.
