Four friends dead in horrific freeway car crash involving drunk driver
At around 1am on July 20, the group of 24-year-olds was driving home from a concert when their Nissan got involved in a crash with a California Highway Patrol vehicle and stalled on in the middle of the 605 freeway.
That's when a Kia slammed into the back of the Nissan at high speed, causing the latter to burst into flames and trapping the four friends inside, where they all died.
According to officials, the Kia's driver was drunk.
'This was entirely preventable due to the fact that one of the drivers was driving under the influence,' said CHP Officer Zachary Salazar.
The victims were identified as Julie Harmori, her boyfriend Armando Del Campo, and their two friends, Jordan Partidge and Sam Skocili.
They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Kathy Stickel, Harmori's aunt, said that Partridge had called her mother after the initial crash with the CHP vehicle to let her know that the group had been in accident, but that they were okay.
However, in the middle of the call, the line went dead. This was the moment the Kia slammed into their car.
Stickel said that the four friend had formed deep-rooted friendships with one another that stretched back many years.
'She was about the relationships,' Stickel said of her niece, adding that the group had been friends since junior high school.
The families of all four victims are turning to each other for support.
'All the parents are checking on each other,' Stickel said. 'They're also checking on people who they've met through this whole tragedy.'
Family members created a joint GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses.
'Proceeds will be divided evenly among the four families' parents, as they scramble to memorialize their children,' the fundraiser page read.
Heartbreaking The other two victims were identified as the couple's two friends, Sam Skocili left) and Jordan Partidge (right)
The Kia driver, Iris Salmeron, 26, of Bellflower, and her passenger, who was unidentified, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Salmeron was arrested and is now facing multiple felony charges, including driving under the influence.
CHP Officer Salazar said: 'Our hearts go out to the families who are involved in terms of the victims…our officers are going to investigate this to the best of their ability.'
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