Teenager arrested in Torrance house crash

A 17-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday, hours after he allegedly lost control of a sport utility vehicle, crashed into a Torrance house, and ran.

The boy was taken into custody about 2 p.m., 13 hours after a Chevrolet Blazer plowed through the house in the 2100 block of Cabrillo Avenue, Torrance police Sgt. Steven Jenkinson said.

The vehicle apparently spun out and went in backward, coming to rest about 3/4 inside the house.

The teen abandoned two passengers in the sport utility vehicle, including one who had to be cut from the wreckage, police and firefighters said.

"We forced the door open and then cut the door off its hinges," Torrance fire Capt. Bob Millea said.

Police said the driver was headed south at high speed when he lost control of the SUV, drove over the curb on the west side of the street, struck a block wall and crashed into the residence.

The crash created a 12-by-12-foot hole in the wall, firefighters said.

No one was home at the time, police said. Attempts to contact the owner were not successful.

The teen was held on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. He was expected to be taken Wednesday evening to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.

The passengers were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Police said SUV belonged to a relative of one of the teen driver's passengers.

Photo courtesy of Torrance Fire Department