Driver Accused of Killing 3 Women in High-Speed Los Angeles Crash Was on Probation in Violent Crime Case

Three young women were killed while riding home in an Uber in Los Angeles when a speeding Mercedes-Benz slammed into their vehicle at an intersection. The driver accused of causing the crash was reportedly on probation for an attempted murder case at the time.

The fatal collision occurred shortly before 5:30 a.m. on August 26, 2023, at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Century Boulevard in South Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Gregory Black, then 31, was driving a white Mercedes-Benz at an extremely high speed before striking the Uber carrying four passengers.

Investigators said Black had been traveling at speeds approaching 100 mph in an area with a 35 mph speed limit and had run multiple red lights before the collision. The impact sent the Uber spinning several times before it came to rest near the curb.

Three passengers seated in the back of the Uber died at the scene. They were identified as sisters Veronica Amezola, 23, and Kimberly Izquierdo, 27, along with their 23-year-old friend, Juvelyn Arroyo.

The women had reportedly been returning home from a concert when the crash occurred. Their deaths devastated their families, who were suddenly left grieving three young lives lost in a single collision.

The Uber driver and the fourth passenger were injured and taken for medical treatment. Black was also hospitalized with a fractured ankle and other injuries.

Police later revealed that Black had an extensive criminal history. According to LAPD investigators, he had three felony convictions and was serving a five-year probation term connected to an attempted murder case. Detectives also reported finding a loaded firearm inside the Mercedes-Benz.

Black was charged with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty at his initial arraignment, according to contemporaneous reports.

The case drew further attention because of the circumstances surrounding his earlier criminal proceedings. In a September 2023 investigation, the Los Angeles Times reported that Black had previously faced murder-related charges before reaching a plea agreement that resulted in probation rather than a lengthy prison sentence.

Authorities stressed that the fatal crash investigation was ongoing at the time of the original reports. Investigators were also examining whether alcohol or drugs had played any role.

The deaths of Amezola, Izquierdo and Arroyo renewed concerns about extreme speeding on Los Angeles streets and the devastating consequences of running red lights. For the victims’ families, the loss was compounded by questions about how a driver with a serious criminal history had been back on the road.

Source: foxnews