A driver has been charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter after allegedly speeding and running a red light in South Los Angeles, resulting in a collision with an Uber vehicle that killed three female passengers and injured the driver and another passenger. The driver, Gregory Black, 31, will appear in court next week.
The incident occurred at around 5:25 a.m. on Saturday at the intersection of South Vermont Avenue and West Century Boulevard. According to police, Black was driving a Mercedes north on Vermont at speeds possibly exceeding 90 mph when he ran a red light and collided with the westbound Uber vehicle, a Honda. Black’s car spun out and came to a stop in the center median. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital before being arrested.
The victims of the crash were identified as 23-year-old Juvelyn Arroyo from San Juan Capistrano, 23-year-old Veronica Amezola and 27-year-old Kimberly Izquierdo, both from Santa Ana. Izquierdo and Amezola were sisters and had been friends with Arroyo since childhood, as stated by their relatives on GoFundMe pages established for both families.
The Uber driver, a 38-year-old woman, and a male passenger sustained minor injuries in the crash, according to authorities.
Black was formally charged on Tuesday with three counts of vehicular manslaughter. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf during his arraignment at the Compton Courthouse on Tuesday. He will return to court next week for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial. Black is currently held in custody with a bail set at $4 million.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Detective Ryan Moreno from the Los Angeles Police Department stated that the investigation into the crash is ongoing and it is uncertain whether drugs or alcohol played a role. However, Moreno disclosed that Black is a known gang member with 11 prior arrests and three convictions. At the time of the crash, Black was serving five years of probation for his involvement in a 2020 murder case.
Moreno emphasized his commitment to ensuring that individuals who engage in speeding and cause fatal traffic collisions are held accountable and sentenced to prison.
“Although it can’t bring back the victims, these families are currently undergoing immense suffering. One family has to prepare for two funerals for their daughters,” Moreno expressed. He also described the crash scene as “horrific.”
“To witness such a high number of casualties, it was reminiscent of the aftermath of a bomb explosion,” said Moreno.
Moreno further revealed that the area has seen an alarming increase in speed-related crashes in recent weeks, with the LAPD’s South Traffic Division recording 70 traffic-related fatalities this year alone.
A GoFundMe page for Arroyo’s family has already raised over $13,000, while a separate page for Izquierdo and Amezola’s family has accumulated nearly $32,000 in donations.
According to family members, the group was returning home from a concert in South Los Angeles when the tragic crash occurred.
The GoFundMe page states, “Kimberly (Izquierdo) and Vero (Amezola) were bright and full of life, with so much more to give through their kindness, intelligence, compassion, and joy. Kimberly had recently graduated from nursing school and was making strides in the medical field. She was a dedicated and intelligent student who also participated in her college dance team at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
“Veronica was an exceptional student who graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt. She conducted field research in the Redwoods and had a passion for environmental science. Recently, she had secured a job working with animals at the County of Orange and was excited about her promising future.”
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