Ex-CHP Officer and DUI Suspect to Appear in Court After Fatal Crash on 605 Freeway in Norwalk

Former CHP Officer and Suspected Drunk Driver Arraigned on Murder Charges

LOS ANGELES – A former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer and a suspected drunk driver are scheduled for arraignment Tuesday on four counts of murder. The charges are linked to a tragic double collision on the 605 Freeway in Norwalk that resulted in the deaths of four young adults last summer.

The incident occurred on July 20, 2025, when former Officer Angelo Rodriguez allegedly drove his patrol vehicle at speeds exceeding 130 mph, without activating emergency lights or sirens. During the episode, he struck a Nissan carrying four passengers.

Following the impact, Rodriguez reportedly pulled over, deactivated his lights, and waited for approximately three minutes before exiting the freeway, without notifying dispatchers of the collision. Just two minutes later, Iris Salmeron, allegedly driving at over 110 mph with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit, crashed into the disabled vehicle. The subsequent impact caused the Nissan to burst into flames, claiming the lives of all four occupants.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman confirmed that, although the initial crash by Rodriguez did not result in fatalities, it was a significant factor in the events that followed. “The initial crash and the actions of Officer Rodriguez were a substantial factor in the ultimate deaths of these four people… The second crash is what ignited the car and burned the occupants," Hochman stated.

Rodriguez, who had been employed with the CHP since 2023, was fired following the incident. The District Attorney’s Office highlighted his extensive training in safe driving and responding to traffic collisions, noting he had been involved in two previous on-duty accidents.

Salmeron, a resident of Bellflower, attended a high school event discussing the dangers of driving under the influence and was injured in the crash, along with a passenger in her vehicle.

Both defendants are currently being held on $4 million bail, with prosecutors seeking to increase the amount to $8 million each. In addition to the murder charges, Salmeron faces charges for driving under the influence causing bodily injury.

If convicted on all charges, both Rodriguez and Salmeron could be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison.