Two men who were passengers in an Audi that crashed near Third Street and Wilton Place early Saturday morning were killed after the vehicle struck an SUV and a streetlight before catching fire.

A memorial for the two deceased victims was placed at the site of the collision near the corner of Wilton Place and Third Street. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The male driver of the Audi fled the scene of the collision on foot, and police are working to identify him and file felony hit and run charges, said Det. G. McQueen, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Traffic Division.

“We have a good idea of who the driver is, and the investigation is ongoing,” McQueen said. “We are working with the District Attorney’s Office to file charges and get a warrant [for his arrest].”

The collision occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. The Audi A4 was traveling west on Third Street when the driver allegedly ran a red light and collided with a Nissan Murano SUV making a turn on to Third Street from Wilton Place. The Audi, which had six people inside, careened into a streetlight and caught fire.

Four men including the driver escaped from the Audi, but two others were trapped inside and died. Authorities are not releasing the victims’ names pending notification of next of kin. The other passengers in the Audi are expected to survive. Two unidentified people in the Nissan complained of pain but did not require hospitalization, McQueen said.

McQueen declined to release any further details of the collision pending the outcome of the investigation. Candles and flowers were placed near the scene of the collision as a memorial for the victims. Photos with messages attached to the memorial identified the decedents as Marten G. and Araik Y., both 25 years old.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call investigators with the LAPD’s West Traffic Division at (213)473-0234.