Crime & Safety

Memorial of Candles and Flowers Spring up at Last Year's Crash Site on Ventura

This week also marked the anniversary of another tragedy—a local tragedy, when one year ago three youths died in a fiery crash after racing 100 mph along Ventura Boulevard and smashing into Reno's Pizzeria.

The melted sign has been replaced, the windows of the restaurant were restored, and the trees along the sidewalk were replanted, but the site still contains flowers and candles marking the one-year anniversary of where the three friends died after leaving Romanov's down the block after celebrating a friend's 21st birthday party.

Three girls were at the site on Tuesday night, but wouldn't talk on the record about being friends with one of the victims,  Jason Shmelnik, 25.

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The other two victims were Pavel "Pasha" Volodkovich and Ekaterina Botvinieva and they hit the restaurant in a BMW at 11412 Ventura Blvd.

Reno's owner Nick Tsaturyan said the tragedy still weighs heavy for him, but he is ready to have the business move on from being associated with the accident. 

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One girl, who has stood vigil at the site for a week last year, said she spent a lot of time this week also tending to the heart-shaped candle memorial and flowers and teddy bears left behind.

"We appreciate all of the coverage the Patch has given to our friends to help their memories," the girl said. "Thank you for being respectful."


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