TOPANGA CANYON—Helinelson Lazo, 32, of Woodland Hills was arrested on Thursday, September 3 for a DUI after he crashed his Dodge Challenger into a backhoe loader. The construction equipment was parked in close proximity to the Village at Westfield Topanga in Warner Center, say authorities.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received a call at approximately 1:35 a.m. reporting an unconfirmed collision into a “bucket of a bulldozer,” LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart told Canyon News. A dozen firefighters responded to the call.
Lazo was speeding while intoxicated with alcohol when he crashed his muscle car into the mechanical excavator on the 6400 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
The passenger side of the vehicle was completely wrecked, but Lazo sustained no injuries. He was transported to West Hills Hospital for further examination, where he was cleared and then booked for a DUI at the Valley Jail Section, Lt. Steve Embrich of LAPD’s Topanga Division told Canyon News.
The $300 million Village at Westfield Topanga, an outdoor shopping area, as well as a center for both the arts and performance, is set to open September 18.
“The Village at Westfield Topanga will be a new central gathering place for shopping, dining, events, entertainment and leisure will provide local residents and visitors a destination experience unlike any other in the San Fernando Valley,” states the Westfield website.
