KTLA reports that a suspected DUI driver struck and killed an 87-year-old woman while getting out of a car on Thursday night.
Investigators say that the 87-year-old beloved grandmother and matriarch was being dropped off at her apartment complex located in the 14000 block of Foothill Boulevard at approximately 8:45 p.m. when a white Ford Fusion struck the car she had been riding in. The force of impact knocked the 87-year-old onto the ground.
The suspect driver attempted to flee the scene.
Eyewitnesses told police that the suspect continued to drive erratically down Foothill Boulevard, where he crashed into four or five more parked vehicles.
Son of the deceased, Joel Reynozo, told police that he estimated the suspect was driving at least 60 miles per hour just before slamming into the rear of his car.
“He hit my mom, and there was a chain reaction, “Reynozo said. “He spun around like three or four times and hit the cars and stopped on the fourth or fifth car along the way.”
Police arrived on the scene, and the suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended a short distance away.
Despite all life-saving measures made by first responders to save her, the woman died at the scene of the crash.
A woman in one of the parked cars along the street that the suspect hit was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries. She was later released from the hospital and is expected to be OK.
The suspect driver has been identified as 33-year-old Juan Martinez. He was arrested for second-degree murder and driving while under the influence.
