18-year-old woman who died in Walnut Creek fatal crash identified

WALNUT CREEK — A woman who died in a crash on a major commute bypass road was identified early Friday as an 18-year-old Pittsburg resident.

Authorities said Saniya Banga, drove the car that lost control on Ygnacio Valley Road and smashed into a telephone pole between Civic Drive and North Broadway. The 1:05 a.m. wreck shut down that stretch of the road in both directions until about 3:20 a.m. Friday.

Banga died at the scene after being ejected from the vehicle, Walnut Creek police Lt. Jeff Slater said in a statement.

A passenger in the same car also suffered serious injuries that authorities said were survivable. Authorities said that person had to be cut free from the wreckage with hydraulic tools.

PG&E workers were summoned to replace the power pole. The crash caused a power outage to about 3,200 PG&E customers in the nearby areas.