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crime22h ago
CHP officer, drunk driver, killed young couple after cop speeds at 130mph: prosecutors
Nypost.com and 1 more
- Angelo Rodriguez, a California Highway Patrol officer, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a July crash that killed four people in Norwalk, marking a fatal escalation tied to excessive speeds.
- Prosecutors allege Rodriguez was driving at least 130 mph without lights or sirens, failing to provide a clear reason for the speed and for not signaling other drivers.
- The initial collision involved Rodriguez rear‑ending a Nissan driven by 23-year-old Julie Harmori, with several passengers in the vehicle, before a second crash led to a fatal fire.
- The second collision, involving Iris Salmeron who was reportedly driving at 100 mph and may have been intoxicated, caused the Nissan to ignite and kill four people.
- The four victims—ranging in their twenties and including a couple who were soon to be married—died as a result of the second crash and subsequent fire.
- Rodriguez was subsequently fired from the California Highway Patrol following the incident, according to Guardian reporting.
- Prosecutors described the incident as preventable and emphasized the officer's lack of justification for driving at such extreme speeds.
- The Guardian report notes that the incident occurred in the early hours of July, with investigators detailing the chain of events starting from the first crash to the subsequent fatal fire.
- This case involves the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office pursuing second-degree murder charges against Rodriguez, highlighting a broader scrutiny of on-duty conduct and pursuit protocols.
- The Guardian report indicates the officer initially did not report the crash or provide aid, then claimed another CHP vehicle was involved, which is contrasted with prosecutors' account of his on-scene actions.
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