Authorities have identified the driver involved in a catastrophic crash in the unincorporated Westmont area of South Los Angeles that claimed the lives of three Uber passengers and resulted in the hospitalization of the driver and another passenger.
The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Century Boulevard. According to investigators, 31-year-old Gregory Black, the suspect, ran a red light and hit the side of the ride-share vehicle. Black now faces vehicular manslaughter charges.
The victims of the crash, all passengers in the Uber vehicle, have been identified as Juvelyn Arroyo, 23, Veronica Amezola, 23, and Kimberly Izquierdo, 27. Two of the victims were sisters. The 38-year-old female driver and a male passenger survived the crash and are expected to recover.
Following the initial collision, Black’s vehicle spun out of control and landed on the center median. He was subsequently taken to a local hospital in stable condition and has since been arrested.
Authorities believe the incident could have been easily avoided with adherence to traffic laws. “It’s frustrating because, if you just drive the speed limit, slow down, follow the laws of the land, this wouldn’t happen,” said LAPD Sgt. Clarence Perkins.
Uber has also commented on the tragic incident, expressing their deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a swift recovery to the survivors. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dire consequences that can result from reckless driving, and the importance of adhering to road safety rules.