Thread: LOS ANGELES : Driver Behind Bars After Crash That Killed 5

Driver Behind Bars After Crash That Killed 5

4 Children, Driver Dead After Multi-Vehicle Accident On Interstate 5 In Santa Clarita

An unlicensed driver was behind bars Tuesday on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a multi-vehicle crash that killed five people on Interstate 5 in the Newhall Pass.

Victor M. Jarillo, 34, of Los Angeles, was driving a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban that crashed into a Nissan Altima, killing four children just before midnight Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

John J. Blackburn, 53, of Frazier Park, whose Mazda pickup truck spun out and triggered the collision, also died in the crash. Six others were injured, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Blackburn's truck slammed into the center divider and flipped onto its roof, CHP Officer John Lutz said.

The Altima, which was being driven by Francisco Enciso, 25, of Daly City, was struck by Jarillo's Suburban.

Enciso suffered major injuries and Yessica Milan, a 27-year-old passenger in the Nissan, was hospitalized in critical condition. Her three children and nephew in the back seat died, Lutz said.

The children were identified as Xochitl Hernandez, 5, Cynthia Hernandez, 9, and Edgar Hernandez, 8. Lutz said her nephew was 16-year-old Luis Villegas of Oakland.

"I can't really describe it. We're all in shock," family relative Carlos Vasquez said.

The family went to Northern California to pick up a First Communion dress for one of the children and were returning home when the crash occurred, Vasquez said.

Jarillo and three other people in the Suburban, including an infant and a toddler, were treated for minor injuries, Lutz said.

They were identified as Joana M. Avina, 27, of Los Angeles, Emmanuel Jarillo, 1, and Jesus Jarillo, 2.

Victor Jarillo was found to be driving without a license and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, Lutz said.

Avina also was taken into custody on suspicion of providing false information to investigating officers.

A memorial account has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank to help provide funds for the burials of the children. To donate, visit any Wells Fargo and make a deposit into account number 3164793865.

http://cbs2.com/local/Interstate.5.Crash.2.1628820.html

The Suburban's driver, Victor Jarillo, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter for allegedly driving without a license, and his passenger was taken into custody on suspicion of providing false information to officers, according to Lutz.

Is Victor M. Jarillo an Illegal Immigrant?

If so, that would be rather alarming that it would be omitted from the story.

skip, john and ken asked the same question on their show in LA today.
seems no one yet knows for sure.

Victor Jarillo was found to be driving without a license and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, Lutz said.

Avina also was taken into custody on suspicion of providing false information to investigating officers.

So the driver had no license and the passenger gave false information to the police. My bet is they're both illegal invaders. But this is California where illegal invaders are a protected class, which means I would be shocked if that information ever saw the light of day in print.

How very sad. Terrible. It does make you wonder about that driver and passenger, huh? Well, hopefully someone will report it if it turns out they're illegal aliens.

I know lives have been lost but why are there 4 kids in the Altima, doesn't an Altima only allow for 3 passengers in the backseat. One extra life was lost because they carried a 4th passenger in the small Altima. that itself is irresponsible and llegal, one child was clearly without a seatbelt

There were no child seats in any of the vehicles.

There was eveidence that most of the people involved were not wearing seatbelts.

It would be interesting to learn just how many of the involved drivers had valid driver's licenses, if any.

Old Chev Surburbans are very popular in the bario. This vehicle was a 1994 model so it was at leat 16 years old. Got tires? Got brakes?

If it was raining as hard as they claim, then the vehicles should have been going less than 40 MPH.

I hear what you're saying Skip. That was my first impression on reading this last night. Why were there 4 kids in the Altima? 2 of them were sharing? But from your followup it is looking like nobody was wearing seatbelts.

That in itself is irresponsible to the nth degree. And couple that with the weather conditions, and how people like to run the hyways like they're at a Nascar race. At the race it's called drafting, on the streets it's called tailgating. And rush hour is the worst time for it.

And getting plowed into by a 94 Suburban, well, the Altima didn't stand a chance. Anything outside another car the same size or smaller, the Altima is done.

To add to it, the rain if that hard, should have restricted driving to 35mph. Anything over that, even with brand new tires can cause hydoplaning. And if the brakes get wet, they can lose up to 3/4 of their stopping ability. What a lot of folks forget from their driving tests, is that even though the speed limit may be 70mph, the only time you should do the speed limit is when weather, visibility, and road conditions allow it.

Killed another driver and the 4 children in his vehicle.
Xochitl Hernandez, 5, Cynthia Hernandez, 9, and Edgar Hernandez, 8. Lutz said her nephew was 16-year-old Luis Villegas