The families of two people killed in a fiery crash on the 605 freeway in Norwalk on July 20 have filed a claim against the California Highway Patrol to find answers about the accident. Four people were killed in the crash.
Their families say the four young people were heading home from a concert when they were rear-ended by a CHP officer, which caused their car to stall, KNX News’ Karen Adams reported. The families say CHP drove away, then a suspected drunk driver crashed into the stalled car, causing the fiery crash.
“We need them to give access to the information, to share, to be open about the sequence of events, and for me to understand why I have a text from my son that says ‘I've been in a crash. I’m okay. Don’t panic,’ because he knew I’d panic, ‘We’re waiting for the police,’” Angie Reed, the mom of Armand Del Campo, who died in the crash, said.
Kathy Stickel, the aunt of Julie Harmori, another victim in the crash, recounted how she rushed over to Del Campo’s house to tell Reed the news. Stickel didn’t know at the time Del Campo texted his mom about the initial accident.
“I said, ‘This is a hard day, and I'm so sorry, but there's been an accident up on the 605 just before 1 o'clock,’ and she said, ‘I know, Armand told me. He texted me. He said they’re okay.’ and I said, ‘There was a second accident,’” Stickel explained.
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Thomas Feher, Stickel and Reed’s attorney, said CHP didn't put on any warning lights or set off flares, causing the second vehicle to slam into the first car, killing all 4 inside.
“Why did the CHP slam into them in the first place? Why did the CHP leave the scene? Why did 7 minutes, at least 7 minutes, go by with these children left in harm's way? And why is it that the CHP officers who caused this crash were safe and sound,” he questioned.
“These people had promising lives in this community, and it should have never happened. And they shouldn't have been stranded on the 605 freeway in the middle of the night like sitting ducks,” Feher said.
CHP called the crash “tragic” at the time. The driver who slammed into the stalled car was arrested by CHP officers and is suspected of being under the influence at the time of the crash.
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