A former Los Angeles police officer pleaded guilty to murder after he killed a mother, father and son in a drunk driving crash in 2017. Edgar Verduzco, 34, was off-duty and driving 150 miles per hour while under the influence of alcohol when he struck two vehicles on Sept. 26, 2017, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.
One of the cars struck by Verduzco crashed into a center divider on the 605 Freeway and burst into flames, killing the occupants, husband Mario Davila, wife Maribel Davila and their 19-year-old son, Oscar, authorities said.
A mother and her baby, who occupied the other vehicle, suffered minor injuries, according to the district attorney’s office. On April 11, Verduzco pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and one count of driving with a .08% blood alcohol content causing injury.
“As a police officer, Mr. Verduzco was aware that recklessly driving under the influence of alcohol at 150 miles per hour was extremely dangerous to human life and could result in the death of innocent victims, as it tragically did in this case,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “Oscar Davila, a beloved student at UC Riverside, was just 19 years old, and his life and his parents’ lives were senselessly taken in an instant. My support and sympathy go out to the Davila family’s loved ones, including Oscar’s four surviving siblings.”
KTLA reported that hours before the crash, Verduzco posted an animated online avatar in a car superimposed on a bar with the caption “#dontdrinkanddrive.”
Verduzco is set to be sentenced in July. He faces up to life in prison.