‘Designated Driver’ Dies in 2-Car Accident

A “designated driver” chauffeuring a friend who had been drinking was killed in a traffic accident involving an alleged drunken driver, officials said. Avedis Atchabahayan, 25, of Pasadena died early Sunday when a car ran a red light at a Sepulveda intersection and struck his vehicle, officials said. His passenger, Armand Papazian of Glendale, was critically injured.

Atchabahayan “never drank or smoked, and drugs, no way. He talked a lot about why people drank. He never understood,” said his employer, Koko Kederian. The other driver, Luis Murillo, 22, of Panorama City was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, officials said.

Murillo was charged with vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run driving and causing damage while driving intoxicated, said Van Nuys Deputy Dist. Atty. Teri Hutchison. Murillo’s blood-alcohol level was .22% when it was tested after the accident, officials said. The legal limit is .08%. A preliminary hearing for Murillo, who has pleaded not guilty, was scheduled for Nov. 7 in Van Nuys Municipal Court.