Authorities allege that 24-year-old Angelo Rodriguez was driving his patrol vehicle at speeds exceeding 130 miles per hour on the southbound 605 Freeway on July 20 when he struck a Nissan Versa near the Rosecrans Avenue exit. Investigators say Rodriguez was not responding to an emergency call at the time of the collision.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the impact disabled the Nissan and left it stranded on the freeway. Prosecutors allege Rodriguez failed to properly secure the scene after the crash and instead moved his damaged patrol vehicle to the shoulder without activating emergency lights or assisting the people inside the other car.

A short time later, a second vehicle traveling at more than 100 miles per hour slammed into the disabled Nissan, triggering a fiery explosion. The driver of that vehicle, identified as Iris Salmeron, is also facing murder charges. Prosecutors say Salmeron had been drinking earlier that evening and was allegedly driving under the influence at the time of the crash.

The victims — Julie Hamori, 23, Armand Del Campo, 24, Jordan Partridge and Samantha Skocilik — died at the scene.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the tragedy could have been avoided.

“This horrific loss of life might never have occurred if the officer had not been driving at extremely dangerous speeds without justification,” Hochman said in a statement.

Investigators allege Salmeron had been drinking at both a restaurant and a friend’s home earlier in the night. Prosecutors say she also sent a text message indicating plans to become heavily intoxicated before getting behind the wheel.

Rodriguez has since been dismissed from the California Highway Patrol. As of Monday morning, court documents had not yet been officially filed, but both Rodriguez and Salmeron were expected to appear for arraignment at the Bellflower Courthouse.

Attorneys representing the victims’ families say the group had been returning home from a concert when the initial crash occurred. According to civil attorney Darren Aitken, some of the victims were able to contact family members after the first collision and were still alive before the second crash caused the fatal fire.

One of the victims, Hamori, was engaged to Del Campo, according to family representatives.

Legal proceedings in both the criminal case and a related civil lawsuit are expected to move forward in the coming months as investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the deadly chain-reaction crash.

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The agency’s annual Christmastime “holiday enforcement period” is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, when all available officers will deploy to catch drunken or drug-impaired drivers, speeders and other scofflaws.

The enforcement period will last approximately 30 hours and conclude late Thursday night.

“Every instance of speeding or reckless driving carries the potential for life-changing consequences,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Our officers see the destruction these choices can cause, and we urge every driver to slow down, stay alert and make decisions that protect themselves and others. No destination is worth risking a life.”

During last year’s Christmas HEP, CHP officers statewide arrested just over 300 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence, compared to about 900 the year before. The 2024 campaign lasted only a day and night because it fell midweek, like this year’s. The 2023 campaign spanned a full three days and nights because Christmas fell on a Monday.

According to the agency, 17 people died in crashes within the CHP’s jurisdiction during Christmas 2024, compared to 20 the year before.

The abridged campaign in 2024 still netted 2,251 speeding tickets — with 132 motorists allegedly caught going over 100 mph, the CHP said. The effort to crack down on speeders led to the launch of a pilot program earlier this year called “Forward Actions for Speeding Tickets” (FAST). The operation involves deployment of “100 low-profile specially marked patrol vehicles,” the agency stated.

“Every decision behind the wheel matters, and obeying the speed limit can make the difference between arriving safely, or not at all,” the CHP said.

Officers from the Riverside, Blythe, Beaumont, Indio and Temecula CHP stations will be on inland freeways, highways and unincorporated roads, looking to snare traffic violators.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, along with multiple municipal agencies countywide, are currently conducting their own operations, staffing sobriety checkpoints and deploying targeted patrols as part of a year- end enforcement mobilization that began about two weeks ago.

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The agency announced that a 12-hour maximum enforcement period, or MEP, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, during which all available officers will deploy onto freeways, highways and unincorporated roads throughout Riverside County to nab DUI suspects and other lawbreakers.

Personnel from the Beaumont, Blythe, Indio, Riverside and Temecula CHP stations are slated to take part in the enforcement campaign.

“Impaired driving destroys lives, and even one life lost is one too many,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “This Halloween, we’re asking everyone to do their part before the festivities begin, arrange a sober ride and help us keep California’s roads safe for everyone who uses them.”

During the agency’s 2024 Halloween MEP, there were about 500 crashes in the CHP’s jurisdictions statewide, with nearly 100 of those caused by drunk or drugged motorists. Two people were killed and 60 others injured. A total of 120 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to figures.

“Whether it’s Halloween, or any night of the year, the decision to drive sober can save a life,” Duryee said. “Together, we can make our roads safer and prevent tragedies before they happen.”

Municipal law enforcement agencies across the county, along with the sheriff’s department, will conduct their own sobriety patrols, as well as enforce all road rules with the goal of keeping trick-or-treaters and the public at large safe.

Parents and guardians who plan to walk with their kids were asked to wear bright clothes and place reflective tape on their youngsters’ bags and buckets to make them more visible to drivers, as well as provide them with flashlights.

Authorities also emphasized the need for people on foot to stick to sidewalks and designated crosswalks whenever possible, preferably walking within well-illuminated corridors and always observing the actions of motorists to ensure there are no conflicts that could result in injuries.

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Newsom announced Thursday that he would deploy new “crime suppression” teams of California Highway Patrol officers to partner with local officials in six regions: San Diego, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, the Central Valley, Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.

It’s an escalation of a strategy that Newsom has already tried in cities such as Oakland and Bakersfield, sending in state officers to assist with cracking down on retail theft, stolen vehicles and drug dealing.

And it appears closely related to political considerations, as President Donald Trump ramps up threats of military action to “clean up” Democratic-led cities across the country.

During a press conference in his executive office overlooking the state Capitol, where he was flanked by high-ranking CHP officials, Newsom held up flyers showcasing Republican politicians whose states have higher murder rates than California.

“Perhaps the president could deploy the National Guard in every corner of Mississippi. The murder rate’s out of control there. Carnage,” Newsom said. “This is if they care about the issues of crime and violence.

Crime has again become a hot-button national topic. Earlier this month, Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. and took control of its local police force, arguing that federal intervention was needed because of unsafe conditions in the city — though reports of violent offenses are at their lowest in three decades.

Since then, Trump has publicly mulled expanding the operation into numerous other cities that he claims Democrats have destroyed, including San Francisco and Oakland. Newsom has denounced the idea on social media and in interviews, referring to it on Thursday as “authoritarian.”

Newsom and Trump are also in the midst of an ongoing struggle over the president’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines into Los Angeles earlier this summer to quell fierce protests against immigration enforcement. The governor sued to stop what he alleges was an illegal military action, and though most of the troops have since been demobilized, a potentially precedent-setting case is still ongoing.

This latest “crime suppression” program provides Newsom an opportunity to get ahead of Trump and show that California is already taking action with an approach that the governor claims is highly effective. Last year, CHP officers made more than 9,000 arrests, recovered nearly 5,800 stolen vehicles and confiscated more than 400 firearms in Bakersfield, Oakland and San Bernardino, according to the governor’s office. The announcement touted a 34% decrease in homicides and a 25% reduction in robberies in Oakland in 2024, while shootings in Bakersfield dropped to their lowest since before the coronavirus pandemic.

“Whatever the crime is, when we come in and do just enforcement that leads to good police work, that crime goes down,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said during the press conference.

Magnus Lofstrom, who researches crime for the Public Policy Institute of California, said it’s plausible that strategy contributed to lower crime, though it’s hard to attribute it as the main reason. Among the eight largest cities in California, which include Oakland, three saw slight increases in violent and property crime rates last year, while San Francisco experienced a drop on par with Oakland. 

“It’s difficult to pinpoint any specific factor that’s behind them,” he said in an interview.

Duryee said the new “crime suppression” teams would be at least 12 to 15 officers and focus on problems flagged by local officials, which could include illegal street racing and open-air drug markets.

Newsom denied that the expansion was a reaction to Trump. He said his administration was “trying to be responsive to the people we serve,” who want to see more done.

“You still have people whose cars are broken into. You still have crimes being committed. You still have murders,” he said. “I’m not arguing to defend the status quo. Quite the contrary. We think we can do better still.”

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Bryce Martinez, 35, of Yermo, along with his three children, Cole Martinez, 16, Trent Martinez, 15, and Sailor Martinez, 10, were pronounced dead at the scene of the May 4 rollover crash on Interstate 40, about 30 miles east of Barstow. The children were Barstow residents, according to the San Bernardino County coroner.

The crash was reported around 7:45 a.m. that day. The CHP said Bryce Martinez was driving westbound on the freeway in a 2012 Dodge Ram when he veered onto a dirt shoulder, causing the truck to roll several times.

While the crash cause remains under investigation, impairment is not believed to have contributed to the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.

According to a GoFundMe page established for the children’s mother, more than $25,000 had been raised for her as of early Monday afternoon.

“We have not fully come to understand what is in store for us and have not yet been provided with a final cost to prepare the children for final resting,” according to the GoFundMe page that is authored by the apparent partner of the children’s mother.

“I have been with Tamara since 2015 and through the years we were blessed with two more children, Peyton and Lynsey who we are helping navigate through their loss, as well. Tamara is not the kind of person who receives help well, it has taken her some time to allow us all to be there for her in the time of need. If you are willing to donate, please know how much she and the rest of us truly appreciate it,” the post reads.

The CHP asked anyone with information on the crash to call Officer Herrera at 760-255-5900.

The post Father, 3 Children, Killed In Inland Empire Crash appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The crash happened around 1:15 a.m. Saturday on eastbound state Route 74 just west of Grand Avenue in the Lake Elsinore area, authorities said.

Investigators found that the 21-year-old was driving a 2000 Ford Explorer at an unknown speed when the vehicle veered to the right, leaving the roadway and crashing into a tree.

The crash caused the vehicle to overturn on its roof, and the driver, who was allegedly not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected out of the driver-side window. According to the CHP, the vehicle rolled over onto the driver, causing fatal injuries.

The driver was later identified as Isaac Romero of Lake Elsinore.

Investigators believe alcohol impairment was a factor in the crash, authorities said.

— City News Service

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Sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols are expected countywide during Super Bowl 59, which will see the Kansas City Chiefs challenge the Philadelphia Eagles.

Both the California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department plan to step up patrols during the game, which will likely see sports bars crowded with fans and home watch parties attended by people enjoying alcoholic beverages.

While going out, police are asking residents to take advantage of ride-share apps and or to designate a sober driver.

“Celebrating the big game should never come at the cost of someone’s safety,” Deputy Adrian Martinez said. “By making a plan to get home safely, you’re not just protecting yourself, but also your loved ones and everyone else on the road.”

The sheriff’s department offered the following tips to stay safe:,

• Designate a sober driver.
• Use ride-sharing services or public transportation.
• While hosting, offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverage options and make sure guests have safe, sober rides home.
• Don’t let friends or family members drive impaired. Take their keys and help arrange a safe ride.
• Watch for impaired drivers on the road and report them to local law enforcement by calling 911.

“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, cannabis products and other drugs may also cause impairment. If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive,” the sheriff’s department said Friday.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI can face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties and have their license suspended.

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The operation, which is similar to what the governor’s office called “successful operations” in Oakland, Bakersfield and San Francisco, will see the San Bernardino Police Department working with CHP’s Inland Operation Team. Additional officers will be placed in the city, in order to help local law enforcement cut down on crime that includes gun violence and property theft. 

“We are sending additional CHP support to help local law enforcement aggressively suppress criminal activity and provide this community with a new level of safety and accountability,” Newsom said in a statement. “Whether in the Bay Area, the Central Valley, or Southern California — we are monitoring and stand ready to step in and support local law enforcement to protect communities and keep Californians safe.”

According to recent data provided by the governor’s statement, violent crime in San Bernardino is almost double the statewide average, and the homicide rate is more than three times the average across California. Additionally, vehicle theft rates are amongst the highest in the state.

CHP will assist with units both on the ground and in the air, many of which will be dedicated to targeting street takeovers and stolen vehicles, the release said. Additionally, additional investigators will be provided to help SBPD in order to disrupt street gangs, organized crime and to get illegal guns off the street. 

“We are grateful to Governor Newsom for providing additional support from the California Highway Patrol to the City of San Bernardino,” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran in the statement. “This year, out City Police Department’s efforts have led to a 13% reduction in violent crime, and the extra support will strengthen public safety in our community. With this new state and local collaboration in San Bernardino, we can continue to impact criminal enterprises targeting our neighborhoods and businesses.”

This is the latest in a series of similar operations going on throughout California, with similar work being conducted in the Bay Area. So far, the operations have netted more than 3,200 arrests, recovered nearly 3,000 stolen vehicles and officers have seized more than 170 illegal firearms and illegal drugs. 

Since 2019, California has invested more than $1 billion to fund resources and law enforcement personnel to fight crime, the statement said. 

Governor Newsom has made efforts to aid local law enforcement with a number of historic investments aimed at stopped organized retail theft. Just last year, 55 local law enforcement agencies received over $267 from the state to help prosecute organized retail theft perpetrators, of which more than 10,000 people were arrested. 

On top of those arrests, the CHP’s Organized Retail Theft Task Fore arrested more than 3,200 people and recovered more than 880,000 stolen items worth more than $46 million. 

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HEMET, CA — A 35-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he collided head-on with a pickup south of Hemet, authorities said Wednesday.

Casey Fryer of Hemet was fatally injured at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on Fairview Avenue, just north of Bautista Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Jonathan Torres said Fryer was riding a 2024 Kawasaki northbound on Fairview at an unconfirmed speed when he inexplicably drifted over the double yellow lines, into oncoming traffic.

“The driver of a Dodge Ram pickup was going southbound and observed the Kawasaki,” Torres told City News Service. “He attempted to take evasive action by turning to the right, but was unable to avoid the crash.”

Fryer’s bike slammed into the pickup, hurling him onto the roadway, resulting in catastrophic injuries.

Riverside County Fire Department paramedics reached the location before 8 p.m. and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The pickup driver, identified only as a 37-year-old Hemet man, was not hurt. He was questioned by CHP officers and allowed to leave.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information was asked to contact the CHP San Gorgonio office at 951-846-5300.

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The single-vehicle crash was reported just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday on southbound Elliot Road just south of Keller Road.

According to the CHP, a 17-year-old boy from Murrieta was driving the 2008 Ford Ranger southbound on Elliot Road at approximately 25 mph. The driver allegedly steered the Ford Ranger to the right on a dirt shoulder causing him to lose control of the truck, which spun out, fishtailed and rolled over.

Three unsecured juveniles were traveling in the truck bed and were ejected onto the dirt shoulder area. A 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were rushed to Inland Valley Medical Center with major injuries. The third unsecured boy suffered minor injuries, according to the CHP.

It was unknown if the driver suffered any injuries. Two additional 16- year-olds — a boy and a girl– were traveling with seatbelts in the truck’s cab, but it was not immediately clear if they suffered any injuries.

No arrests were made, and the CHP said alcohol or drugs were not considered factors in the crash. The agency reminded the public that riding in a pickup bed is illegal and extremely dangerous.

For More Law and Disorder News Visit www.zapinin.com/law-and-disorder.

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