Driver in Porter Ranch car crash that killed two teens will face charges, police say
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A car crash that resulted in the deaths of two teenagers in Porter Ranch nearly five years ago has been referred to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office for potential charges.
The crash — which occurred on Aug. 3, 2010, and involved a Toyota RAV4 driven by 18-year-old Jessica Lopez and 18-year-old Julian Ramirez — led to the deaths of Lopez and Ramirez, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Ramirez, who had been driving Ramirez’s car, was driving south on the 110 Freeway in an effort to head toward his home in Porter Ranch (map) when Lopez crossed over the center divider and made a left-hand turn at an on-ramp, according to LAPD.
In the process, the RAV4 ran a red light, striking Ramirez, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Lopez, who was driving, was declared dead at a hospital.
The accident sparked widespread outrage in the area. “We have a community that is outraged,” said Alex Bastian, a lawyer who represented Ramirez’s family. “The whole world is out to prove something, and people are tired of seeing this happen again.”
The crash has become a flashpoint for public protest and is being used as a catalyst for the area’s recent activism.
“I see this as a moment that we should be able to bring about real change,” said Tony Nunez, a former PHA president.
The crash occurred in a district that is currently being gerrymandered because of voter-approved Proposition 20, which limits the authority of a board of supervisors that includes a majority of residents of the district.
A group of protesters has mounted a new billboard that was removed within 24 hours, claiming that Proposition 20 is “being used to disenfranchise minorities.
