2 Students Die in Crash With Fleeing Suspect

A Palmdale man was in custody Saturday after he allegedly ran a red light during a high-speed police chase and collided with a car filled with San Fernando Valley high school students on their way home from a pep rally. Two students died in the crash.

A third student in the car also suffered minor injuries in the accident that occurred at 9:10 p.m. Friday at Chatsworth Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Mission Hills, police said.

Arrested was Ray Vargas Servin, 21, whose pickup truck slammed into a car driven by Uriel Fernandez, 16, of Pacoima. Fernandez, a junior at San Fernando High School, was taken to San Fernando Community Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Aracely Hernandez, 18, of San Fernando died at the scene. She was a senior and cheerleader at Sylmar High School. Juan Melendrez, 16, of Pacoima, was treated for cuts and bruises at Holy Cross Medical Center and released.

The three were on their way home from a pep rally at Sylmar High School, driving south on Laurel Canyon when their car was struck by Servin’s truck, which was traveling through the residential neighborhood at 55 to 60 m.p.h., said Officer Dennis Smith.

Police said Servin, who was being held without bail at Van Nuys jail, was involved in a gang-related shooting a few blocks away only minutes before the fatal collision. A passenger in Servin’s car, Sergio Alvidrez, 28, of Canyon Country, was injured in the crash, but was not arrested. He was treated at Holy Cross and released.

Witnesses said Servin and several other suspected gang members became involved in a fight outside a house on Louvre Street, a few blocks from the accident scene. At one point during the fight, Servin allegedly pulled a handgun and fired several shots.

San Fernando Police Sgt. Michael Harvey heard the shots and went to the scene. When he arrived, he saw Servin’s pickup truck driving away and gave chase.

With lights flashing, Harvey chased Servin west on Chatsworth at speeds of up to 60 m.p.h. Servin ran a red light at Laurel Canyon, colliding with Fernandez’s car. Police said Servin appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.