Family members of two of four people killed in a fiery crash on the 605 Freeway in Norwalk in July filed a claim for damages against the California Highway Patrol.
The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, alleges that a CHP officer set in motion the deadly chain of events just before 1 a.m. July 20 north of Rosecrans Avenue.
Attorneys for the family members of Julie Hamori, 23, and Armand Del Campo, 24, said a CHP cruiser rear-ended a Nissan sedan with two other people inside, leaving the car disabled on the freeway. Attorneys alleged the CHP officer moved the cruiser off the freeway, but did not deploy flares or warnings lights with the Nissan still on the freeway.
Attorneys said the car was struck several minutes later by a suspected DUI driver and exploded in flames, killing all four occupants.
The CHP said at the time that the Nissan was involved in a crash with one of the agency’s vehicles. As more officers responded, the Nissan was hit by a Kia sedan, the CHP said.
The CHP issued a statement Tuesday.
“This was a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families impacted by this incident,” the agency said. “Both crashes remain under investigation; we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”
Family attorneys said the Nissan became a “sitting duck” on the freeway. Del Campo’s mother said her son sent a text after the first crash, saying they were waiting for police.
“And then hours later, I get a knock on my door telling me there’s been a terrible crash,” Angie Reed said. “And I said, ‘I know, they’re fine, I have this text. What do you mean they’re not fine?’ I need to know what happened and we need to know now.”
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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