Family Shares Heartbreaking Last Words with DUI Crash Victim: ‘One Child Was Speaking When the Call Ended’
Murder Charges Filed in Fatal Crash on 605 Freeway
Two individuals, including a former California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer, are facing murder charges following a tragic crash last summer that resulted in the deaths of four young people on the 605 Freeway near Downey.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that former CHP officer Angelo Rodriguez, 24, and 27-year-old Iris Salmeron, who is accused of driving under the influence, have been charged with second-degree murder. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on July 21, 2022, when the victims—23-year-old Juliana Hamori, her boyfriend Armand Del Campo, 24, and their friends Jordan Partridge and Samantha Skocilic—were inside a Nissan. The complaint alleges that Rodriguez was driving his CHP unit at 130 miles per hour when he rear-ended the Nissan, leaving it disabled in the carpool lane without notifying authorities.
After the collision, Rodriguez allegedly pulled over, assessed the damage, and left the scene, leaving the four individuals in the Nissan. Hamori’s aunt, Kathy Stickel, recounted that the victims were in contact with family, reassuring them that they were okay and waiting for help when the line abruptly cut off.
Just moments later, the second vehicle, driven by Salmeron, crashed into the parked Nissan at a speed of 110 miles per hour, igniting a fire that claimed the lives of all four friends.
Investigators determined that Salmeron was intoxicated at the time of the incident. Both suspects have been arrested and are currently being held on $4 million bail, with their arraignment expected tomorrow.
Families of the victims have expressed their gratitude that the District Attorney’s office is pursuing second-degree murder charges. They criticized the CHP for initially downplaying the involvement of one of their units. According to the complaint, Rodriguez failed to inform dispatchers about the crash, though a police report later revealed damage to his vehicle.
In response to the new charges against Rodriguez, the CHP stated, "CHP investigators completed a comprehensive crash investigation, and the facts of the case were presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which recommended criminal charges. While we cannot comment further, we extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event. Any loss of life on California’s roadways is a profound tragedy."
