A vehicle crashed into a church in Culver City today, apparently during a street race involving two suspected drunken drivers, police reported.
The driver of the vehicle that crashed into the church about 12:40 a.m. at Washington Boulevard and Kensington Road was hospitalized with severe injuries, as was a passenger, said Culver City police Lt. Sam Agaiby.
Officers responding to the scene stopped the other driver leaving the area and detained the motorist for questioning, Agaiby said.
“Two vehicles were traveling eastbound on Washington Boulevard at an extremely high rate of speed approaching the bend at Kensington Road,” Agaiby said. “One of the vehicles lost control and jumped the south curb line. The vehicle traveled through the air and eventually landed into the church building.”
The driver of the second vehicle also lost control, but avoided a collision, he said.
“This vehicle was stopped by officers as it was leaving the area, and the driver and sole occupant was detained,” Agaiby said. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicles were racing and that the drivers of both vehicles were under the influence of alcohol.”
The names of the motorists were not immediately released.