Sheriff’s Sergeant Will Stand Trial in Fatal Crash
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeant has been ordered to stand trial on manslaughter and drunk-driving charges for allegedly causing a fiery Aug. 24 accident in which the driver of a disabled car parked on a freeway shoulder died in the City of Industry.
Citrus Municipal Judge R. Bruce Mino last week ordered Sgt. Dennis Max Howell, 46, who works out of the Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station, bound over for a Superior Court trial. Howell remains free on his own recognizance.
Other officers testified at his preliminary hearing that Howell registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.23% after the off-duty incident, in which the sergeant’s car crashed into the rear of Santiago Herrera’s disabled car on the northbound 605 Freeway near Valley Boulevard.
Herrera was burned to death when his car burst into flames.
The crash occurred after a night of drinking with other deputies celebrating transfers, officers testified.
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