- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
CHP Officer Charged with Murder After Deadly Crash
Alleged drunk driver also faces charges in fiery incident that killed young couple and two others
Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:56pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A California Highway Patrol officer has been charged with murder after allegedly ramming into the back of a car at 130mph and fleeing the scene, moments before a drunk driver hit the disabled vehicle and killed all four passengers in a fiery crash on the 605 freeway last June.
Why it matters
This case highlights issues around police accountability, drunk driving, and public safety on California's roads. The tragic loss of four young lives has raised concerns about the actions of the CHP officer and the need for stricter enforcement and penalties for reckless and impaired driving.
The details
Prosecutors allege that CHP officer Angelo Rodriguez was driving his patrol car with lights and siren off before hitting the Nissan at around 1 a.m. on June 20. Rodriguez then allegedly pulled over, inspected the damage to his car, and called in the accident without mentioning his involvement. Before he could return to the scene, an alleged drunk driver, Iris Salmero, slammed into the disabled Nissan at 110mph, causing it to burst into flames and killing all four occupants.
- The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on June 20, 2026.
- Rodriguez was charged with murder on March 16, 2026.
The players
Angelo Rodriguez
A California Highway Patrol officer charged with murder for his alleged role in the incident.
Iris Salmero
The alleged drunk driver who slammed into the disabled Nissan, causing the fiery crash that killed four people.
Julianna Hamori
A 23-year-old from Huntington Beach who was one of the victims killed in the crash. She and her fiancé, Armand DelCampo, were planning to get married.
Armand DelCampo
A 24-year-old from San Pedro who was killed in the crash along with his fiancée, Julianna Hamori.
Nathan Hochman
The Los Angeles District Attorney who announced the charges against Rodriguez and Salmero.
What they’re saying
“These cases are some of the hardest cases I have to talk about.”
— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles District Attorney (nypost.com)
What’s next
The judge will decide on Rodriguez's bail on Tuesday, March 19, 2026.
The takeaway
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for stronger accountability and enforcement measures to prevent reckless driving and drunk driving, which continue to endanger lives on California's roads.
