Woman Dies, 2 Others Hurt in Crash

SANTA CLARITA — An 85-year-old woman was killed and two other women injured after their car inexplicably veered off Sierra Highway and rolled down a 75-foot embankment, a sheriff’s deputy said.

Marie Savino died shortly after being airlifted to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Santa Clarita on Wednesday, said Lt. Larry Gump of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The driver of the car, Dorothy Monjoy, 75, and Cathryn Cogdill, 84, were transported to the same hospital. Cogdill was in intensive care Thursday. Hospital officials would not comment on Monjoy’s condition.

The three were driving home after a day of playing bingo in Friendly Valley when their 1986 Dodge Lancer, heading south on Sierra Highway, rear-ended a pickup truck about 3:40 p.m., Gump said.

The women’s car swerved and broke through the guard rail, witnesses told sheriff’s deputies. It rolled several times before coming to a halt, Gump said. All three women were wearing seat belts, he said.

There is no indication what caused the car to strike the truck, Gump said.