Reseda - On Wednesday, February 28, 2001, at 12:35 a.m., a female driver was eastbound on Victory Boulevard approaching Corbin Street, collided with several parked vehicles. A twenty-year-old female White victim, who was seated in the right rear, was leaning out of the window at the time of the collision and suffered severe head trauma. The right front passenger was not injured.

The driver then drove to her residence located in the 6200 block of Reseda Boulevard and found that the victim was unconscious and bleeding from her head area. The driver called 911 for help. Responding Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Detectives from Valley Traffic Division are conducting the investigation. The preliminary investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of Alcohol. The driver was placed under arrest for 191.5 P.C., Gross Vehicular Manslaughter, and booked at Van Nuys Jail with the bail set at 100,000 dollars. The arrestee has been identified as twenty-seven year old Karen Louise Shaw from Melbourne Australia.

The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.