A California Highway Patrol officer has been charged with murder after allegedly crashing into a car at 130 mph and leaving the scene. This incident occurred moments before a drunk driver hit the car, killing all four passengers inside.
Prosecutors claim that Angelo Rodriguez was involved in “a horrible tragedy that shouldn’t have happened,” resulting in the deaths of four individuals in their twenties, including a young couple preparing for marriage.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman of Los Angeles stated that Rodriguez was driving without lights or sirens when he collided with the Nissan at around 1 a.m. on June 20. This information was shared during a briefing at the Hall of Justice on Monday.
After the collision, Rodriguez allegedly pulled over and turned off his lights, according to the District Attorney. “The Nissan is disabled with its emergency lights on in the HOV lane, and he’s sitting there for three minutes,” Hochman explained. “At one point he actually gets out of the car and inspects the damage to his own car,” he added.
The officer eventually left the freeway to report an accident but did not mention his involvement, as stated by the District Attorney.
Before Rodriguez could return to the Nissan, Iris Salmero, an alleged drunk driver traveling at 110 mph, crashed into the car, causing it to catch fire, according to Hochman.
The victims, identified as Julianna Hamori, 23, of Huntington Beach; Armand DelCampo, 24, of San Pedro; Jordan Partridge, 23, of Los Angeles; and Samantha Skocilic, 22, of Westminster, perished in the flames.
Footage from a passing car captured the vehicle in flames. Hamori and DelCampo were on the verge of marriage, with Hamori having already chosen her wedding dress, according to her aunt.
Both Salmeron and Rodriguez are facing four counts of murder, while Salmeron also faces two additional DUI charges.
When asked if Rodriguez was tested for drugs and alcohol, Hochman told the Post there was “no information that Rodriguez was impaired.”
“These cases are some of the hardest cases I have to talk about,” said the tough-on-crime DA. Both Salmeron and Rodriguez face life in prison and are being held on $8 million bail.
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