Ex-CHP Officer & DUI Driver Charged with Murder in Crash That Killed Four

The crash

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 20, 2025, on the southbound 605 Freeway near Rosecrans Avenue in Norwalk. Four friends—Juliana Hamori, 23; Armand Del Campo, 24; Jordan Partridge, 23; and Samantha Skocilic, 22—were driving home in a Nissan after attending a concert in downtown Los Angeles. According to investigators, their vehicle legally entered the carpool lane.

At that moment, 24-year-old Angelo Rodriguez, an on-duty CHP officer, was driving his patrol car in the same lane at an alleged speed of over 130 miles per hour. He did not have his emergency lights or sirens activated and was not responding to a call for service. Rodriguez slammed into the rear of the Nissan, disabling it and leaving it stranded in the HOV lane.

What happened next is perhaps the most damning element of the case. According to prosecutors, Rodriguez pulled his damaged cruiser over to the right shoulder and sat there for approximately three minutes. He did not radio dispatch to report the crash he had just caused. He did not activate his lights to warn oncoming traffic. He did not check on the four people in the Nissan, who were still alive. At one point, he got out of his car to inspect the damage to his own vehicle. He then drove away, exited the freeway, and called dispatch without mentioning his involvement.

Approximately two to three minutes later, while the Nissan sat helpless in the lane, a Kia sedan driven by Iris Salmeron, 27, of Bellflower, approached at speeds estimated at over 110 miles per hour. Salmeron, who prosecutors say was under the influence of alcohol, plowed into the disabled Nissan. The impact caused the Nissan to burst into flames, killing all four occupants instantly.

Salmeron and a passenger in her car were hospitalized with major injuries. She was initially arrested on suspicion of DUI.

The charges: Murder, not manslaughter

On March 16, 2026, DA Nathan Hochman announced that both Rodriguez and Salmeron had been charged with four counts of second-degree murder. Salmeron faces additional felony counts of DUI causing injury.

Hochman explained the rationale for the unprecedented charge against the officer. "This horrific tragedy could have been avoided if a motorist accused of drunk driving hadn’t gotten behind the wheel and driven over 110 miles per hour, and an on-duty CHP officer hadn’t driven over 130 miles per hour and neglected his duty," Hochman said.

Rodriguez was charged with murder because his "conscious disregard for life"—driving at extreme speeds without justification, crashing into the victims, and then abandoning them without rendering aid or warning other motorists—was a "substantial cause" of their deaths. Prosecutors noted that Rodriguez had extensive CHP training on safe driving and traffic collision response, and had been involved in two prior on-duty collisions.

Salmeron, who had attended a high school event discussing the dangers of DUI, allegedly sent a text that night proclaiming she intended to get "f---ed up". Her blood alcohol content was measured well above the legal limit.

Both defendants face up to life in state prison if convicted. They were arrested Friday night and are being held on $4 million bail each, with prosecutors requesting that it be increased to $8 million. Arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday in Bellflower Courthouse.

Lives cut short on their way home

The four victims were young, vibrant individuals with their whole lives ahead of them.

• Juliana Hamori, 23, of Huntington Beach, and Armand Del Campo, 24, of San Pedro, were engaged to be married
• Jordan Partridge, 23, of Los Angeles (or Midway City), and Samantha Skocilic, 22, of Westminster, were their close friends

After the initial collision with Rodriguez's cruiser, the group called and texted their families. Moments later, Salmeron's car struck them. Attorney Darren Aitken, representing the families in a civil lawsuit against the CHP, stated emphatically that none of the victims were seriously injured after the first crash. They were alive and waiting for help.

This case, while extreme, underscores several critical lessons about road safety, accountability, and the legal system.

1. Excessive speed is deadly: Rodriguez's alleged speed of 130 mph and Salmeron's 110 mph are not just numbers; they represent a complete abandonment of the responsibility that comes with operating a vehicle. At such speeds, reaction time is nearly zero, and the force of impact is catastrophic
2. Duty to stop and render aid: Every driver, including and especially law enforcement officers, has a legal and moral duty to stop after a crash, check for injuries, and call for help. Rodriguez's alleged failure to do so transformed a survivable collision into a death sentence for four people
3. Murder charges in crashes are rare but possible: While most fatal crashes result in vehicular manslaughter charges, second-degree murder can be filed when prosecutors believe the defendant acted with "implied malice,” a conscious disregard for human life. The combination of extreme speed, intoxication (in Salmeron's case), and the failure to render aid elevated this case to murder
4. Accountability extends to all: No one is above the law. The fact that Rodriguez was a sworn officer trained in traffic safety makes his alleged conduct even more egregious. His termination from CHP and these charges send a clear message that public trust must be earned and maintained

Looking ahead

As the families of Juliana, Armand, Jordan, and Samantha prepare for the arraignment, they carry a grief that no verdict can heal. But the charges filed Monday represent a significant step toward accountability.

"These cases are some of the hardest cases I have to talk about," DA Hochman said. "Cases where this horrible tragedy could have been prevented".

Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a serious crash involving negligence, excessive speed, or a failure to render aid, the independent attorneys we connect you with have the experience to investigate complex cases and fight for the full measure of justice you deserve.