Crime & Safety
Man Gets 6 Years for DUI Crash That Killed Northridge Woman
Edward Lamont Powe III was speeding at more than 90 mph when he lost control and rammed passenger-side first into a light pole.
A Van Nuys man who was drunk when he crashed a compact car into a light pole, killing his 19-year-old passenger, was sentenced today to six years in state prison.
Edward Lamont Powe III, 25, pleaded no contest May 6 to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in connection with the crash that occurred last Dec. 30.
He was speeding at more than 90 mph when he lost control of a Ford Focus, which crashed passenger-side first into a light pole near Roscoe Boulevard and Hayvenhurst Avenue in the Van Nuys area, authorities said. Powe's passenger, Jennifer Benga of Northridge, was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Powe was found trapped in the car, smelling of alcohol and with three beer cans in his pockets, according to a prosecutor.
--City News Service
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