The suspect, 31-year-old Gregory Black, is facing three counts of vehicular manslaughter after this past weekend's two-car crash at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Century Boulevard, Los Angeles Police Detective Ryan Moreno said at a news conference.
[Ads /]
Black also faces special allegations of two or more prior felony convictions and aggravated circumstances of great bodily injury, according to the district attorney's office. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at the Compton Courthouse on Tuesday. He is due back in court next week.
Black, a "well-known local gang member," at the time of the collision was serving a five-year probation for attempted murder, Moreno said. Black's "checkered past" includes 11 felony bookings and three convictions, the detective said, adding that he had two criminal "strikes" against him, including a "super strike."
The violent crash occurred shortly before 5:30 a.m. Saturday when a Mercedes-Benz ran through a red light and slammed into an Uber vehicle at a high rate of speed, spinning the second vehicle five times, investigators said. Three passengers in the Uber were pronounced dead at the scene.
2 sisters among fatal victims after driver runs red light, hits Uber in South LA crash
They were later identified as sisters Kimberly Izquierdo, 27, and 23-year-old Veronica Amezola. The third deceased victim was Juvelyn Arroyo, 23. The Uber driver, a 38-year-old woman, and a fourth passenger in that car were taken to the hospital.
[Ads /]
Moreno said the crash site "looked like a bomb went off" in the aftermath of the collision.
The suspect, Black, was also taken to the hospital in stable condition. He had reached speeds of up to 100 mph in a 35-mph zone before the impact, police said.
Police released surveillance video they say shows Black driving at nearly 100 mph before running a red light.
A loaded gun was found inside the Mercedes, according to the LAPD.
"I promise that if you're doing that here and you're speeding, and you put everybody in danger, and you crash and you injure somebody, you're going to go to prison," the detective said.
[Ads /]
"He's going to prison," Moreno added, referring to Black. "It doesn't bring back the victims. Those families right now are all suffering. One of the families, they're preparing for two funerals, for both their daughters."
Police said Black was on probation for attempted murder for his role in what authorities described as a murder case. The DA's office says he was placed on probation following a careful review of the evidence in that case.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the family of the sisters.