On Friday, December 8, 2023, a high-speed police chase in San Diego, California, resulted in a fatal crash, claiming the lives of two young brothers aged four and eight.
The two boys were identified as Malikai, 8, and Mason Orozco-Romero, 4.
The accident occurred on an off-ramp at Interstate 805, while the suspect, Angel Velazquez Salgado, 20, was being chased by the police for speeding. His BMW sedan, allegedly reaching around 100 miles per hour, collided with a Honda containing the two boys, their mother, and a 29-year-old passenger. The Honda crashed into a tree and caught fire.
Salgado has been charged with two counts each of murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, in addition to facing allegations of hit-and-run, felony evasion, and unlicensed driving.
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Coto highlighted the intensity of the vehicle pursuit, which spanned nearly five miles across surface streets and freeways, leading to the fatal collision at the 43rd Street off-ramp.
After the crash, he allegedly attempted to flee the scene and even took off some of his clothes in a bid to conceal his identity. He was eventually apprehended in a nearby residential neighborhood. He is accused also of rear-ending an elderly woman’s car during the chase, resulting in injuries to her as well.
The boys’ mother, Victoria, who had just been released from the hospital hours earlier after being treated for lupus, was critically injured in the crash and remains hospitalized. The boy’s father died last year.
A GoFundMe page set up by the boys’ godmother described the emotional impact of the incident. The fundraiser aims to support the family’s immediate needs and assist with the medical expenses of the injured mother.
Salgado was booked into San Diego Central Jail on a $1 million bond. He appeared in court on December 13 for his arraignment.