Sidewalk Memorial to Good Samaritans to Stay

Five months after two good Samaritans were electrocuted in Valley Village as they tried to rescue a crashed driver, crews are working to install a low-voltage system at the scene of the tragedy.

Workers this week began tearing out sidewalk at Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue, but there's one slab of concrete that's being left untouched. It bears a tribute, written when the cement was likely wet, to local resident Stacey Schreiber and Irma Zamora of Burbank who lost their lives on the night of Aug. 22.

The message called the women heroes for trying to aid Arman Samsonian, 19, who's vehicle collided with a light pole and a fire hydrant. The downed power lines mixed with the gushing water, sparking a 4,800-volt charge that killed Zamora and Schreiber.

In the days that followed, L.A. City Councilman Paul Krekorian announced he would speed up a citywide effort to install an updated electrical system at the the scene of the collision that would only emit about 120 volts.

A light pole would be installed once again at the intersection upon completion of the project.

Bureau of Street Lighting crew members did not want to be interviewed by Patch, but said they were leaving the tribute to Zamora and Schreiber as a sign of respect.

Valley Village Neighborhood Council President Tony Braswell said he was happy about that decision.

"It is genuinely wonderful that the crew is showing such sensitivity to those who expressed their respect in the wet concrete," he said in an email. "For many in our community this will always be a solemn place."

In October, manslaughter charges were filed against Samsonian, who pleaded not guilty.