Sylmar Man Accused of Drunk Driving in Fatal Crash

Police have arrested a 24-year-old Sylmar man on suspicion of killing a female motorist while driving intoxicated on Christmas Eve, authorities said.

Miguel Jose Valdez Jr. was being held at San Fernando City Jail without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, police said.

About 10:25 p.m. Friday, witnesses along Orange Grove Avenue saw Valdez’s 1983 Camaro skid through a stop sign at 7th Street and into a 1998 Toyota Corolla “with such force that both vehicles continued in a southeast direction and struck three parked vehicles,” according to police. Witnesses told police the Toyota had just begun to cross the intersection after making a complete stop.

The driver of the Toyota was Angelina Hernandez, a 35-year-old Sylmar resident, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s officials. Hernandez’s family could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Hernandez suffered massive head injuries and died at the scene. Police suspect she was not wearing a seat belt.

One of the five vehicles involved in the collision caught fire. Valdez, who suffered minor injuries, was interrogated at the scene and arrested. “While speaking to Valdez, the officers formed the opinion that Valdez had been driving under influence of an alcoholic beverage,” according to the police statement.

Because Valdez had two outstanding arrest warrants for violating probation and driving without a license, he was held without bail, said San Fernando Police Sgt. Ken Belden.

Police will send Valdez’s blood sample to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department crime lab to determine his alcohol level at the time of the accident.