A Los Angeles man on trial for murder was driving a Mercedes-Benz at speeds of up to 100 mph when he plowed into an Uber, killing three young women, including two sisters, returning from a concert, officials said.
Gregory Black, 31, allegedly ran several red lights while speeding through LA’s Westmont neighborhood about 5:30 a.m. Saturday before he crashed into an Uber at Century Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, Fox News reported, citing police.
Police said Black — a gangbanger with an extensive rap sheet — was clocked at speeds of up to 100 mph in a 35-mph zone, adding that the impact of the crash caused the Uber to spin five times before it stopped.
Killed in the crash were siblings Kimberly Izquierdo, 27, and Veronica Amezola, 23, and their friend Juvelyn Arroyo, 23, who were all in the backseat of the shared vehicle, authorities said.
Family members of the three young women said they were on their way home from a concert when they were killed, Fox Los Angeles reported.
Sisters Kimberly Izquierdo, 27, and Veronica Amezola, 23, died when their Uber was hit by a speeding car.GoFundMe
Juvelyn Arroyo, 23, a friend of the brothers, was also killed in the wreck.GoFundMe
The driver and front passenger were injured and are recovering, the LAPD said.
Black – who suffered a broken ankle and other minor injuries – is charged with three counts of gross vehicular homicide and faces up to 75 years in prison if convicted, Fox News reported.
“It’s clear when you see this video, that it’s vehicular homicide all the way. It looked like a bomb went off,” said Detective Ryan Moreno, who added that Black “has a pretty checkered past.”
A surveillance camera captured the violent collision.KTLA
The driver, who had a loaded weapon in the car at the time of the crash, has three felony convictions and is on trial for murder, Moreno told reporters.
“Mr. Black is going to jail,” he said. “He has an extensive criminal history. I’m 100% sure he’s going to jail. This guy can’t get out and see the light of day.”
Investigators are still trying to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.
“It’s almost worse that there wasn’t any kind of alcohol or DUI,” Moreno told reporters. “You’re actually sober and you’re actually driving like that? Who would get behind the wheel and drive 100 mph and run a red light?”
The white Mercedes-Benz was traveling at speeds of up to 100 mph, police said. FOX 11 Los Angeles
A brother of two slain siblings says he cannot come to terms with their loss.
“I still have the feeling that they will walk through the door and it will always be there,” Jose Izquierdo told NBC Los Angeles. “Those three girls are gems. My sister is the perfect daughter. They are perfect siblings. They are perfect.”
The brother said his parents were too heartbroken to comment on the loss.
Uber spun five times as a result of the violent collision. FOX 11 Los Angeles
“They are just like any other parent in the world,” Izquierdo told the outlet. “That’s what you fear. Again, when you bring a child into this world, you get that fear and they are damaged. Their world is dark.”
Kimberly just graduated from nursing school while her older sister, who is interested in environmental science, recently got a job at an animal shelter, KTLA reported.
“This is another night when they’re out together and they’re in charge and they’re not driving. [They were] trying to go home, and this is the time they don’t go home,” Izquierdo told the outlet.
“I really hope that Kimberly and Veronica and Juvelyn can see how much love they left here, that they still have here, that they will always have here,” he added.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help cover funeral expenses for the sisters and for Arroyo.
Black is being held in the LA County jail on $4 million bond; the next court date is Sept. 5.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
