On September 27, 2017 “The Sun” published an article in which a 26-year-old off -duty LAPD officer crashed his car into the rear of a Nissan, killing three people and injuring another driver.

Edgar Omar Verduzco is suspected of being intoxicated while driving his 2016 Chevy Camaro; it is alleged that Verduzco was speeding in the carpool lane of the southbound 605 Freeway in the Los Angeles area Tuesday night when he rear-ended a Nissan travelling in the number 1 lane, causing the Nissan to burst into flames.  The Nissan’s occupants, a family of three, were unable to free themselves from car, and died in the flames.  The three victims were identified as a man, a wife and their teenage son.

After colliding with the Nissan, Verduzco’s Camaro crashed into a second car, a Scion with a female driver. CHP officer Gersain Chavez estimated the Nissan and Scion to be traveling about 65 mph before the collision happened, but the speed of Verduzco’s Camaro was not exact as witnesses reported only that he was “speeding”.

Although the occupants of the Nissan perished in the flames, the woman driver of the Scion complained of pain from the collision and was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck spoke at a press conference Wednesday. “My heart goes out to the victims and the families. And I cannot tell you how angry and disappointed I am that a Los Angeles police officer would disregard the law and cause an accident with such awful, awful consequences.”

Beck said the department takes alcohol abuse, particularly driving under the influence, very seriously. The LAPD has opened an administrative investigation.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which is the union for LAPD officers, sergeants and lieutenants, said in a statement that if Verduzco is found guilty of what he is accused of then he should suffer the consequences for his reckless actions.

Verduzco was reported to have been held at Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles with a bail amount of $100,000.

While often times many DUI’s go unseen and even un-convicted, some DUI incidents result in the most horrible and tragic automobile accidents resulting in serious injury and even death.  The consequences of DUI not only affect the driver, but also unsuspecting motorists who happen to be sharing the road.  Motorists could lose much more than they ever anticipated when they set out on the roads; victims from DUI collisions can suffer not only major vehicle damage, but also injuries that could alter them for life, and worst of all, cost them their lives.

If you or anyone you may know was recently involved in any type of DUI, the first steps you should take is to focus on planning your defense with an experienced DUI attorney.

The Law Offices of Manuel J. Barba focuses primarily on defending persons accused of DUI – driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  They provide professional and experienced DUI defense in the criminal courts throughout Southern California and at the DMV driver safety offices.

Attorney Manuel J. Barba has been awarded the prestigious Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation by the Chemistry and Law division of the American Chemical Society (ACS-CHAL), and is the ONLY DUI Defense Attorney in the Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial County areas with this designation, which gives him the knowledge and expertise to defend you or someone you may know. For more information on the Law Offices of Manuel J.Barba, you can visit their website or call 866-442- 2722 for a free consultation.