SANTA FE SPRINGS (CNS) - A motorist arrested following a fiery crash on the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway in Santa Fe Springs that killed three people is a Los Angeles Police Department employee, authorities said today.
The three-vehicle collision was reported at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday just north of Washington Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Authorities said 26-year-old Edgar Verduzco of Santa Ana was speeding in his 2016 Chevy Camaro in the carpool lane when he struck a 2014 Nissan and a 2010 Scion from behind.
Verduzco is an LAPD employee, said LAPD Detective Ross Nemeroff, who declined to elaborate. The Los Angeles Times reported that Verduzdo is an LAPD officer, citing the Transparent California website that lists ``an Edgar Verduzco ... as a police officer with the LAPD.'' The website is a public pension database, The Times reported.
The impact of the crash caused the Nissan to burst into flames, trapping the three people inside -- two males and a female, the California Highway Patrol reported. The three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Verduzco was taken to a hospital with major injuries and the driver of the Scion, 31-year-old Berly Alvarado of Wilmington, was taken to a hospital after complaining of pain, the CHP said.
While authorities were investigating, a 29-year-old Huntington Beach man driving a Maserati drove past the barricades and was ultimately arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, NBC4 reported.
All southbound lanes were blocked for the investigation and reopened just before 4 a.m.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.